INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Fructus Luffae Retinervus |
| Common English: | Loofah Luffa Dried Skeleton of the Vegetable Sponge Spongegourd |
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
Sweet |
Neutral (Slightly Cold) (Cold) |
Lung Stomach Liver |
6-15g Tincture: 2-4ml |
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Resolves toxicity and reduces swelling |
Abscesses and other toxic sores. Often used for breast abscesses, breast distention, lumps and insufficient lactation |
Unblocks the channels and collaterals and dispels Wind |
Wind-Damp Bi, soreness in the chest and flanks, pain and soreness in the muscles and sinews and stiffness in the joints, especially when Phlegm is part of the pattern Traumatic injury |
Unblocks the channels and collaterals in the breast |
Breast distention and tenderness Insufficient lactation or obstructed lactation |
Expels Phlegm |
Cough due to Lung Heat with high fever, chest pain, and difficult-to -expectorate sputum (for both adults and children) |
CONTRAINDICATIONS |
|
INCOMPATIBILITIES |
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Hb. Taraxaci |
Fr. Liquidamberis |
Per. Citri Reticulatae Viride |
Increases Si Gua Luo's ability to resolve toxicity. |
Breast abscess. Insufficient lactation. |
Breast distention and lumps. |
Rx. Clematidis |
Per. Trichosanthis or Per. Trichosanthis |
Bul. Allii Macrostemi or Fr. Trichosanthis |
Pain and swelling of the joints due to Wind-Dampness. |
Pain due to Blood Stasis and Qi Stagnation. |
Painful obstruction due to turbid Phlegm. |
Cx. Mori |
Cx. Mori |
|
Trauma-induced pain of the chest and flanks. |
Cough due to Lung Heat with Phlegm. |
Cough due to Lung Heat with Phlegm with exterior signs and symptoms. |
Flos Lonicerae |
Ram. Mori |
|
Breast abscess. (with calcined Si Gua Luo) |
Bi syndrome. |
Insufficient lactation due to Qi Deficiency. |
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata |
Hb. Taraxaci |
|
Insufficient lactation due to Blood Deficiency. |
Breast distention and pain due to Liver Qi Stagnation. |
Swelling with a burning sensation of the breast. |
Rx. Peucedani |
Sm. Armeniacae |
|
Cough with sputum accompanying Exterior conditions. |
Cough due to Cold. |
|
- Its structure resembles the channels and collaterals of the human body.
- Some sources say that this herb cools and invigorates the Blood.
- It can be used alone mixed with sesame oil and applied topically for breast abscess.
- Charred Luffa Si Gua Luo Tan is slightly astringent and strongly harmonizes the Blood and stops bleeding. It can be used for hemafecia due to Intestinal Wind, hematuria, enteritis, cancerous swellings, hemorrhoids and continuous uterine bleeding. It is often used for breast distention and insufficient lactation due to Stagnation of Qi and Blood. for this, use 3-6g powdered and ingested with wine. It can also be pulverized and applied topically for cracked nipples.
- Both Si Gua Luo and Caulis Spatholobi Ji Xue Teng are harmonious, sweet, invigorate the collaterals, and expel Wind. Ji Xue Teng is slightly warm and enters the Blood to enrich the Blood and invigorate the Blood within the collaterals. Si Guo Luo promotes the smooth flow of Qi and Blood and transforms Phlegm within the collaterals.
- Dry-fried Luffa Chao Si Gua Luo is neutral and is stronger at invigorating the Blood, unblocking the channels and stopping pain. It is often used for traumatic injury, amenorrhea due to Blood Stasis and obstruction causing insufficient lactation.