俗作瓜蒌
泻火，润肺，滑肠，止血，治热痰
甘补肺（本草苦），寒润下。能清上焦之火，使痰气下降，为治嗽要药（肺受火逼，失
下降之令，故生痰作嗽）。又能荡涤胸中郁热垢腻，生津止渴（丹溪曰∶消渴神药），清咽利
肠（通大便。《是斋方》∶焙研酒调或米饮下，治小便不通），通乳消肿。
治结胸胸痹（仲景小陷胸汤用之。又云∶少阳证口渴者，小柴胡汤，以此易半夏），酒
黄热痢，二便不通。炒香酒服，止一切血（寒降火），泻者忌用。
实圆长如熟柿子，扁多脂，去油用。枸杞为使，畏牛膝、干漆。恶干姜。反乌头。
泻火，润燥，治热
酸能生津，甘不伤胃，微苦微寒。降火润燥，滑痰解渴（古方多用治消渴），生肌排脓，
消肿，行水通经，止小便利，（膀胱热解，则水行而小便不数）。
治热狂时疾，胃热疸黄，口燥唇干，肿毒发背，乳痈疮痔。脾胃虚寒者禁用。
即栝蒌根，畏恶同。澄粉食，大宜虚热人。
补阳，散结，消瘿
辛苦微寒，气禀纯阳。补肝血，缓肝火，解内热，散结气。
治瘿 湿痹，目珠夜痛（楼全善曰∶目珠连目本，即目系也。夜痛及点苦寒药更甚者，
夜与寒皆阴也，夏枯气禀纯阳；补厥阴血脉，故治此如神，以阳和阴也。按目白珠属阳，故
昼痛，点苦寒药则效；黑珠属阴，故夜痛，点苦寒药反剧）。
冬至生，夏至枯，故名，用茎叶。
Commonly known as Gualou.
[Guolou Ren] (Trichosanthis Semen)
Clears fire, moistens the lungs, lubricates the intestines, stops bleeding, and treats Phlegm-Heat (Re Tan).
Sweet in taste to tonify the Lung (Ben Cao records it as bitter), cold in nature to moisten and descend. It can clear Fire in the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner), causing Phlegm-Qi to descend, making it an essential herb for treating Cough (when the Lung is forced by Fire and loses its descending function, Phlegm is generated leading to cough). It can also purge stagnant Heat and greasiness in the chest, generate fluids and quench thirst (Zhu Danxi called it a divine herb for Xiao Ke / Wasting-Thirst), clear the throat and benefit the intestines (unblocks large bowel. *Shi Zhai Fang*: roasted, powdered, taken with wine or rice water to treat inability to urinate), promotes lactation and reduces swelling.
Treats Jie Xiong (Chest Binding) and Xiong Bi (Chest Bi Syndrome) (Used in Zhang Zhongjing's Xiao Xian Xiong Tang / Small Incongruity Chest Decoction. Also stated: for Shaoyang syndrome with thirst, use Xiao Chai Hu Tang / Minor Bupleurum Decoction, replacing Ban Xia with this herb); alcohol-induced Huang Re Li Ji (Yellow Heat Dysentery); and obstruction of both urine and stool. Taken fried until fragrant with wine, it stops all types of bleeding (due to its cold nature descending Fire); contraindicated in diarrhea.
The fruit is round and long like a ripe persimmon, flat and oily; remove the oil before use. Gouqi (Lycium Fruit) acts as a guide; it is incompatible with Niuxi (Achyranthes Root) and Gan Qi (Dried Lacquer). It opposes Wu Tou (Aconite Root).
[Tianguafen] (Trichosanthis Radix)
Clears fire, moistens dryness, treats Heat patterns.
Sour taste generates fluids; sweet does not damage the Stomach; slightly bitter and cold. Descends Fire, moistens dryness, lubricates Phlegm and quenches thirst (ancient formulas often used it for Xiao Ke / Wasting-Thirst), generates flesh and expels pus, reduces swelling, moves Water and unblocks menstruation, reduces frequent urination (when Bladder Heat resolves, Water flows freely and urination is no longer frequent).
Treats Re Kuang (Mania due to Heat), epidemic diseases, Stomach-Heat Jaundice, dry mouth and lips, toxic sores on the back, Ru Yong (Breast Abscess), sores and hemorrhoids. Contraindicated in Spleen-Stomach Deficiency-Cold.
It is the root of Gualou; its incompatibilities are the same as above. The clarified starch is suitable for consumption, especially beneficial for those with Deficiency-Heat.
[Xiakucao] (Prunellae Spica)
Tonifies Yang, dissipates nodules, eliminates Ying (Goiter).
Bitter and pungent, slightly cold; its Qi is purely Yang. Tonifies Liver Blood, moderates Liver Fire, clears internal Heat, dissipates stagnant Qi.
Treats Ying (Goiter), Shi Bi (Damp-Bi Syndrome), and pain in the eyeballs at night (Lou Quanshan said: The eyeball connected to the eye root is the Eye Meridian system. Pain at night and worsening after applying bitter-cold herbs occurs because night and cold are Yin; Xiakucao possesses pure Yang Qi; it supplements the Jueyin blood vessels, thus treating this condition miraculously, harmonizing Yin with Yang. Note: The white part of the eye belongs to Yang, hence daytime pain responds well to bitter-cold applications; the black part belongs to Yin, hence nighttime pain worsens with bitter-cold applications).
Grows from Winter Solstice and withers at Summer Solstice, hence its name. The stems and leaves are used.