The efficacy and function of Kuhulu

Kuhulu is a common Chinese medicine in clinical practice. For people with poor physical constitution, eating Kuhulu can help us maintain better health. Today I will introduce Kuhulu to you.

[Other names] Bitter gourd (Guoyu), Pulu (Book of Rites), bitter gourd (Benjing), Yuehu, Yuefuhu (Guangzhi), bitter gourd (Tang Materia Medica), Yayaohulu (Jianbian Danfang), long-handled teapot (Binghu Ji Jianfang), medicine pot (Compendium of Materia Medica), thin-necked gourd, long-handled gourd (Benjing Fengyuan), golden gourd (Compilation of Medicinal Materials), Beijing gourd, small gourd (Jiangsu Plant Drug Records).

[Source] It is the fruit of the bitter gourd of the Cucurbitaceae family. In autumn, pick the ripe but young fruits and peel them for use.

[Original morphology] Annual climbing herb with soft hairs; tendrils are branched. Leaves are alternate; leaf blades are cordate-ovate, 10 to 40 cm long, slightly equal in width to length, with 2 to 4 shallow lobes, mucronate or obtuse at the apex, irregularly wavy short teeth on the margin, cordate at the base, and covered with soft hairs on both sides; petiole is very long, with two glandular teeth at the top. The flowers are monoecious and solitary; the male flowers have long petioles, longer than the petioles, while the female petioles are shorter; the calyx is funnel-shaped and 5-lobed, with narrow triangular teeth and covered with soft hairs; the petals are 5, white, and broadly ovate; the male flowers have 3 stamens, the anthers are combined, one anther has 1 chamber, and the other two anthers have 2 chambers each; the female flower ovary is elliptical and pubescent, the style is short, and there are 3 stigmas, each with 2 lobes. The fruit is initially covered with soft hairs and is light green. When ripe, the shell becomes hard and smooth, and is white or yellow. There are two unequal fruit chambers, the upper chamber is smaller than the lower chamber, and the middle is narrower like a waist. The seeds are white, flat, obovate and elliptical. Flowering period is from July to August.

【Habitat distribution】 Distributed in most parts of the country.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter, cold.

【Functions and indications】Diuretic and anti-edema. Treat edema, jaundice, diabetes, urinary retention, carbuncle, ulcer, and scabies.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 2 to 3 qian; or made into pills or powder. For external use: decoct in water for fumigation or washing, boil the juice for application or nasal drops.

【Note】 Those with weak constitution should not take this medicine.

[Additional prescription] ① Treating swelling caused by water retention all over the body: ㈠ 2 fen of bitter gourd membrane and 5 fen of scutellaria baicalensis seeds. Combine the above two ingredients and make into pills. Take five pills as big as red beans, three times a day. ㈡ Seven pieces of jujube pulp and a bitter gourd membrane as big as a jujube pit. Take three pills at a time. If you have traveled fifteen miles, take three more pills. If water comes out, take another pill. (Qianjin Fang)

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From "Compendium of Materia Medica".

This is all the information about the effects of Kuhulu. I hope it will be helpful to you. Although the value of Kuhulu is very high, we must be cautious when eating it.