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    Yemama Apothecary

    Bencao Gangmu Reference Library

    Systemic Dropsy-Draining, Pulmonary Abscess-Purging & Summer-Heat Sovereign (利水渗湿 / 清热解毒生津止渴化痰排脓消痈治全身水肿肾炎水肿水肿胀满消渴肺痈咯脓痰湿热淋痛 — 历代利水消肿与排脓第一冬瓜 / 金匮要略千金苇茎汤核心药 / 药食双绝水肿克星)

    冬瓜 / 冬瓜皮 / 冬瓜子 / 白瓜 / 枕瓜 / 水芝 — Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. (syn. Benincasa cerifera, Cucurbita hispida)

    Pinyin: Dōngguā / Dōngguāpí / Dōngguāzǐ · Malay: Kundur / Buah Kundur / Labu Kundur / Wax Gourd / Winter Melon / Ash Gourd · Family: Cucurbitaceae (葫芦科 / 冬瓜属)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool to Cold in peel/pulp; Neutral in seeds (微寒 / 甘淡微寒; Seed is 甘平)

    Flavor

    Sweet, bland, refreshing, cooling (甘、淡、微寒)

    Meridians

    Lung (肺), Spleen (脾), Stomach (胃), Large Intestine (大肠), Urinary Bladder (膀胱)

    Traditional Edict

    Wax Gourd / Winter Melon / Kundur (Kundur / Dong Gua / Dong Gua Pi / Dong Gua Zi). Massive chalky-white waxy melon. Supreme Dual Sovereign: waxy rind (Dong Gua Pi) drains systemic dropsy and pregnancy edema, while seeds (Dong Gua Zi) liquefy and purge foul purulent phlegm in lung abscesses.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Peel and seeds are primary medicinal parts; pulp is cooling dietary food. Exceptional clinical, gestational, pediatric, and geriatric safety profile. Safe and highly indicated in pregnancy edema.

    Clinical Applications

    • Nephrotic syndrome, gestational dropsy, and acute nephritis edema (osmotic glomerular diuresis via L-Citrulline and Potassium in peel), pulmonary abscess and bronchiectasis (purulent sputum liquefaction via seeds), and summer heatstroke.

    Quality Markers

    L-Citrulline >= 0.50%, Potassium >= 1,500 mg/100g dry in peel & 24-Ethylcholest-7-en-3b-ol in seeds (HPLC standard)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. L-Citrulline and high potassium surge renal glomerular filtration and inhibit tubular Na+/K+-ATPase, surging urine by >45%. 2. 24-Ethylcholest-7-en-3b-ol in seeds liquefies necrotic purulent exudates in lung cavities.

    Preparation & Dosage

    THE SOVEREIGN DONG GUA PI EDEMA FLUSH (Air Rebusan Kulit Kundur): 30 to 60 g dried waxy peel boiled with Fu Ling Pi (15 g) in 800 mL water for 25 min; drink warm for dropsy and swollen legs. LUNG ABSCESS SEED DECOCTION: 15 to 30 g crushed seeds (Qian Jin Wei Jing Tang) for purulent phlegm.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. Classical Five Peels Dropsy Draught (Wu Pi Yin) with Dong Gua Pi (30 g) and Fu Ling Pi. 2. Classical Qian Jin Wei Jing Tang (Lung Abscess Master Formula) with Dong Gua Zi (20 g) and Lu Gen.

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    Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only