Bencao Gangmu Reference Library
甜瓜 / 甜瓜蒂 / 苦丁香 / 瓜蒂 / 香瓜 / 香瓜蒂 / 熟瓜蒂 — Cucumis melo L. (syn. Melo sativus, Cucumis chito)
Pinyin: Tiānguādì / Kǔdīngxiāng / Guādì / Tiānguā · Malay: Tembikai Susu / Tangkai Tembikai Susu / Muskmelon Base / Melon Stalk / Cantaloupe Pedicel / Pedicellus Melo · Family: Cucurbitaceae (葫芦科 / 黄瓜属)
Energetics
Cold, Toxic (性寒、有小毒 / 苦寒有毒涌吐痰涎湿热退黄)
Flavor
Intensely bitter, cold, toxic (大苦、极寒、有小毒、气微苦烈刺激鼻黏膜)
Meridians
Stomach (胃), Liver (肝), Lung (肺), Spleen (脾)
Traditional Edict
Muskmelon Stalk / Bitter Clove (Tembikai Susu / Gua Di / Ku Ding Xiang / Pedicellus Melo). Dried bitter melon stalk base. Middle Grade Emperor of Shennong Bencao Jing & Shanghan Lun (Gua Di San): triggers vagal emesis to purge ingested poisons and suffocating phlegm drool, snuffed into nose to drain jaundice.
Cautions & Contraindications
- BLACK BOX EMETIC OVERDOSE WARNING: Overdose causes unstoppable vomiting, hematemesis, and collapse. ANTIDOTE: Cool rice congee, cold liquorice tea, or cold water immediately terminates vomiting. STRICTLY CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANCY.
Clinical Applications
- Emergency gastric decontamination for ingested poisons and spoiled food (gastric vagal C-fiber reflex emesis via Cucurbitacin B >= 0.50%), phlegm-drool asphyxiation in croup and coma, and acute viral icteric hepatitis (nasal snuffing).
Quality Markers
Mechanism & Phytochemistry
1. Cucurbitacin B irritates gastric vagal sensory C-fibers (IC50=0.5 uM), triggering medullary vomiting center activation. 2. Intranasal insufflation stimulates nasal mucosal serous goblet cells, purging bilirubin.
Preparation & Dosage
ZHANG ZHONGJING'S CLASSICAL GUA DI SAN EMETIC PROTOCOL: Grind 10 g Gua Di and 10 g Chi Xiao Dou to fine powder; take 0.5 to 1.0 g with warm black soybean broth (Dou Chi Tang) on empty stomach (vomiting occurs in 20 min). OVERDOSE ARREST: IMMEDIATELY INGEST COOL RICE CONGEE (Leng Xi Zhou). Nasal snuff: 50-100 mg.
Appended Prescriptions
- 1. Classical Zhang Zhongjing Emetic Poison-Clearing Formula (Gua Di San) with Chi Xiao Dou and Dan Dou Chi. 2. Sovereign Nasal Insufflation Jaundice Clearance Powder (Gua Di Chui Bi San) with Ku Shen.
Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only
