bubble_chart Source

This product is the dried seed of the white gourd (Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.), a plant of the bottle gourd peel family. It is produced in various regions of the mainland. When consuming white gourd, the seeds are collected, washed, and the mature ones are selected and dried.

bubble_chart Morphological Characteristics

It is flat and long-oval or long-elliptical in shape, about 1cm in length and approximately 6mm in width. The outer skin is yellowish-white, sometimes with cracks, blunt at one end and pointed at the other, with two small protrusions at the pointed end, one of which is smaller and is the hilum; the other protrusion is larger and has a distinct micropyle. The edge is smooth (single-sided waxgourd seed). After removing the seed coat, a milky-white, oily kernel is visible. It has a faint aroma and a slightly sweet taste.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Sweet, slightly cold. Act on lung and large intestine meridians.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Clearing the lung and resolving phlegm, eliminating abscesses, expelling pus, and draining dampness.

bubble_chart Indications

It is used to treat phlegm-heat cough, lung abscess, intestinal abscess, turbid urine, leukorrhea, beriberi, edema, and stranguria.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Benjing: "Waxgourd seed, sweet in taste, neutral and cold in nature, non-toxic. Mainly makes people look radiant and improves complexion, tonifies qi, prevents hunger, long-term use lightens the body and resists aging."
2. Bielu: "Mainly relieves irritability and unhappiness. Long-term use may cause cold in the middle. Can be used as a facial cream to make the face radiant."
3. Cui Yuxi's "Dietary Classic": "Benefits water passage, removes stagnant water."
4. "Rihua Zi": "Removes skin wind, moisturizes the skin."
5. "Materia Medica Shengchang": "Raw nature is neutral, clears the lungs and promotes fluid production; roasted nature is warm, moistens the intestines and harmonizes the middle."
6. Bencao Gangmu: "Waxgourd seed, treats intestinal abscess. For male leukorrhea and female leucorrhea, grind into powder and roast before taking."
7. "Materia Medica Chenya": "Waxgourd seed kernel, absorbs earth's essence, has a greedy nature, even during the summer fire season, it does not hinder the widespread containment of water. A single seed embodies the entire melon. Zhang Zhongjing used it to treat intestinal abscesses where pus has not yet formed, absorbing it completely. The recluse Bielu extended its use to break and disperse internal accumulations, resolving knots and dispersing gatherings. Therefore, it is the most important medicine for spleen and stomach stagnation."
8. Benjing Fengyuan: "Its seed treats intestinal abscesses, removes facial blemishes and dark spots, moisturizes the skin, and can be used as a facial cream, which is the use of Benjing to make people look radiant and improve complexion."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

For internal use: decoct in water, 10-15g; or grind into powder, 3-9g. For external use: apply an appropriate amount, grind into paste and apply topically.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

Those with deficiency-cold of the spleen and stomach should use with caution.

bubble_chart Processing and Storage

Store in a dry place.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

Wax gourd seeds contain 14% oil, with triglycerides accounting for 72-96% of the oil. The main fatty acids present are linoleic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, and windmill palm acid.

Pharmacological effects:

1. Immunostimulatory effect.
2. Trypsin inhibition.