Real gourd

Real gourd

(common folk herbs in Kunming)

[synonym] Buddha Ding Zhu.

[source] it is the root of Trichosanthes himalayana (Cucurbitaceae).

[plant morphology] Trichosanthes himalayana

Perennial grass liana, several meters long. The root is thick and rich in starch. The stem has an edge line. The leaf is palmately 3-5-lobed, 7-15 cm long and 4-13 cm wide, with broad heart-shaped base, irregular serrated margin and pilose petiole, 2.5-5 cm long and pilose. Tendrils 2-3-lobed, opposite leaves. Flowers unisexual, dioecious; petals 6, white; bracts lanceolate, dentate; calyx tube 4-5 cm long, very narrow, outside slightly hairy. The fruit is long columnar, narrow and sharp at both ends, 7-10 cm long and 2.5-4 cm wide, orange red after ripening. Seeds numerous, 6-8 mm long, with small ears on both sides, brown.

Born in the bush of wasteland. Distributed in Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangdong and other places.

[collection] collected in autumn and winter, washed, sliced and dried.

[flavor] pungent, slightly bitter, flat.

Functions and indications: removing blood stasis, anti inflammation and detoxification. For traumatic injury, fracture, inflammation and swelling of renal capsule.

[usage and dosage] oral: decoction, 3-5 yuan. External use: tamping.