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    Yemama Apothecary

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    Diabetic Thirst-Quenching, Yin-Nourishing & Chest-Bi Phlegm Transforming Sovereign (清热泻火 / 生津止渴消肿排脓宽胸散结清肺化痰润燥滑肠 — 传统消渴糖尿病与胸痹心痛第一天花粉 / 瓜蒌宽胸化痰药王)

    天花粉 / 瓜蒌 / 瓜蒌皮 / 瓜蒌子 / 全瓜蒌 / 栝楼根 — Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. (and Trichosanthes rosthornii Harms)

    Pinyin: Tiānhuāfěn / Guālóu / Guālóupí / Guālóuzǐ · Malay: Tian Hua Fen / Pokok Timun Padang / Gua Lou / Chinese Snakegourd · Family: Cucurbitaceae (葫芦科)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool to Cold (寒 / 甘微苦寒)

    Flavor

    Bitter, slightly sweet, subacid (苦、微甘、微寒)

    Meridians

    Lung (肺), Stomach (胃), Large Intestine (大肠)

    Traditional Edict

    Chinese Snakegourd (Tian Hua Fen / Gua Lou). Giant starchy root and round golden gourd. Sovereign Chief Monarch for Xiao Ke (Type 2 Diabetes): root (Tian Hua Fen) quenches parched diabetic thirst and engenders fluids; fruit (Gua Lou) unblocks chest pain (Gua Lou Xie Bai Tang).

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • EIGHTEEN INCOMPATIBILITIES (Shi Ba Fan): DO NOT COMBINE TIAN HUA FEN WITH ACONITE (FU ZI / CHUAN WU). ABORTIFACIENT WARNING: Pure injectable Trichosanthin induces mid-term abortion; CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANCY.

    Clinical Applications

    • Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (wasting-thirst polydipsia via Trichosanthin-mediated glucose utilization), coronary artery disease with chest oppression (Chest Bi / Angina), acute mastitis, and dry hacking cough.

    Quality Markers

    Trichosanthin (天花粉蛋白 / Type-I RIP-I Protein), Starch >= 60.0% in root & Total Sterols >= 1.50% (HPLC Chinese Pharmacopoeia)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Trichosanthin (RIP-I) and polysaccharides stimulate pancreatic beta-cell insulin secretion and glucose disposal. 2. Gua Lou sterols and cucurbitacins dilate coronary vessels and liquefy sticky chest phlegm.

    Preparation & Dosage

    THE SOVEREIGN TIAN HUA FEN DIABETIC THIRST DECOCTION (Yu Quan San Variant): 15 to 30 g dried root slices (Tian Hua Fen) boiled with Ge Gen (15 g) and Mai Dong in 600 mL water for 25 min; taken warm twice daily. Chest pain fruit decoction (Gua Lou): 15-30 g.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. Classical Chest-Unblocking Angina Formula (Gua Lou Xie Bai Ban Xia Tang) with Allium macrostemon (Xie Bai). 2. Sovereign Diabetic Thirst Jade Spring Powder (Yu Quan San) with Pueraria.

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