1. Alias

Chuan pollen, Gualou root, pollen, Lou root.
2. Plant morphology
Perennial herbaceous vine. The root tubers are abundant and thick, often cylindrical or spindle shaped. The stem is hairless and has sharp edges; 2-3 strands of tendrils. Leaves alternate, with wide ovate or flattened heart-shaped leaves. 3-8 male flowers form a raceme inflorescence, with peanuts located at the upper one-third; The small bracteoles are diamond shaped and inverted in shape; Sepals linear, entire margin; Crown white; Female flowers are solitary. The fruit is wide oval to spherical in shape. The seeds are flat, elongated, and dark brown in color. The flowering period is from June to August, and the fruiting period is from September to October.
3. Origin distribution
Born on slopes, grasslands, and semi shaded edges of forests. Distributed in southwestern, central southern, southern China, as well as Shaanxi, Gansu and other areas of China.
4. Harvesting and processing
Excavate in autumn and winter, wash thoroughly, remove the roots and outer skin, cut vertically into 2-4 petals, and cut thicker ones horizontally into several sections or diagonally and dry. Or directly sun dry.
5. Characteristics of medicinal herbs
Irregular cylindrical, spindle shaped, or petal shaped; The surface is yellow white or light brown yellow, with longitudinal wrinkles, fine root marks, and slightly depressed transverse long skin holes, and some have residual yellow brown skin. Solid in texture, white or light yellow in cross-section, rich in powder, with yellow xylem visible in cross-section, slightly arranged radially, and yellow striped xylem visible in longitudinal cross-section. Odorless, with a slightly bitter taste.
6. Sexual Taste Returning to the Classics
Slightly cold in nature, sweet and slightly bitter in taste. Return to the lung meridian and stomach meridian.
7. Effect and Function
Clear heat, generate fluids, reduce swelling and discharge pus. A heat clearing and purging gunpowder belonging to the subcategory of Qingre medicine.
8. Clinical application
Take 10-15 grams and decoct. Used to treat fever and thirst, lung heat and dry cough, internal heat and thirst, ulcers and swelling.
9. Pharmacological research
Subcutaneous administration of smallpox pollen protein injection in rats has anti early pregnancy effects. Trichosanthin injection has anti-cancer effect on rats and mice, as well as anti AIDS virus, hypoglycemic and other effects. Tianhua powder preparation is clinically used for induced labor such as mid-term pregnancy, stillbirth, and post abortion.
10. Chemical composition
Containing starch and saponins, root alcohol acid, cucurbitacin, arginine, aspartic acid, fructose, xylose and other components, as well as smallpox pollen protein and various amino acids.
11. Usage taboos
Not suitable for use with Aconitum medicinal herbs.
12. Related prescriptions
① To treat fever, restlessness, and anxiety in various organs: Take the root of Trichosanthes kirilowii, grind and extract juice, take one mixture each time, and take it regularly. (Holy Blessing Formula)
② To treat internal heat, phlegm, and excessive cough: 30g of smallpox pollen, 9g of almonds, mulberry bark, and Fritillaria cocos each, and 3g of Platycodon grandiflorum and licorice each. Boil it in water. (Compendium of Materia Medica)
③ Treatment of deficiency heat cough: 30g of smallpox powder and 9g of ginseng, as powder. Take 3 grams per serving, under rice soup. (A Brief Introduction to Lake Collection)
④ Treating milk without juice: Cut one liter of Trichosanthes kirilowii root and four liters of wine. Boil three times. Go ahead and divide into three clothes. (From "Qian Jin Yao Fang")
⑤ Treating excessive heat in the spleen meridian and swollen gums: 15g of smallpox powder, 6g of white peony and mint each, and 3g of licorice. Boil it in water. (Compendium of Materia Medica)
⊙ The content of the article is for clinical reference only. Non TCM professionals are not allowed to test drugs.