A Detailed Guide to the Benefits and Uses of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Trichosanthes Root and How to Drink It as an Infusion

Trichosanthes root is a traditional Chinese medicine. It is the dried root of the Cucurbitaceae plant Trichosanthes kirilowii. The tuberous root is cylindrical, thick and fleshy, and rich in starch. It is distributed in Henan and other places, and is generally harvested in autumn and winter. The processing method is to wash it clean, peel it, cut it into sections or split it lengthwise into segments, and dry it in the sun. So, what are the benefits and uses of Trichosanthes root? Can it be drunk as an infusion?

1. What are the benefits and uses of Trichosanthes root?

1. Clearing heat and purging fire: Trichosanthes root is sweet and cold in nature, and can purge fire to clear lung heat. It can treat dryness-heat damaging the lungs, heat disease with restlessness and thirst, dryness damaging the lungs and stomach, and accumulated heat within. It can be used alone or together with drugs such as reed rhizome, Ophiopogon root, raw Rehmannia, and Schisandra fruit.

2. Promoting body fluid production and quenching thirst: Trichosanthes root is sweet and cold in nature, and can promote body fluid production to moisten lung dryness. It can treat dry cough with little phlegm, phlegm with blood, dry throat and thirst, and internal heat wasting-thirst. It can be used alone or together with drugs such as Asparagus root, Ophiopogon root, raw Rehmannia, and ginseng.

3. Reducing swelling and discharging pus: Trichosanthes root can treat early-stage sores and ulcers, blazing heat toxin, and sore and swollen throat. If pus has not yet formed, it can cause it to disperse; if pus has already formed, it can break the sore and discharge the pus. It can be used alone or together with drugs such as honeysuckle flower, Angelica dahurica root, pangolin scales, and mint.

4. Anti-early pregnancy: Subcutaneous administration of trichosanthin injection in rats has an anti-early pregnancy effect.

5. Inducing labor: Trichosanthes root preparations are clinically used to induce labor in the treatment of second-trimester pregnancy, dead fetus, and missed abortion.

6. Anti-cancer: Trichosanthes root injection has anti-cancer effects in rats and mice, and also has effects such as resisting HIV and lowering blood sugar.

2. What are the contraindications for taking Trichosanthes root?

1. Trichosanthes root is a traditional Chinese medicine, and every medicine has some toxicity. People in good health are advised not to take it, and those with stomach deficiency and phlegm-dampness, thirst due to yang collapse, spleen-stomach deficiency cold, or loose stools, as well as pregnant women, should avoid taking it.

2. The dosage of Trichosanthes root is 10 to 15 grams. Do not exceed 20 grams. An excessive dosage may have certain toxic effects on the kidneys, liver, and heart.

3. Trichosanthes root cannot be taken together with Aconitum medicinal materials. The two have opposite medicinal properties, and taking them together not only fails to treat disease but also produces side effects.

3. Can Trichosanthes root be drunk as an infusion?

Trichosanthes root can be drunk as an infusion. Generally, about 15 g is infused at a time, and it should not be too much.

In addition to being infused in water, Trichosanthes root can also be made into tea, decocted as a soup, or cooked into congee. For tea, it can be brewed together with green tea, chrysanthemum, or raw rhubarb. For decoction, it can be decocted together with Chinese yam or combined with other medicinal materials. For congee, it can be decocted in water, strained, and then cooked together with japonica rice, or ground into powder and cooked together. In addition, Trichosanthes root can also be applied externally: add egg white and apply it to the affected area to treat nipple ulcers.

4. Can pregnant women eat Trichosanthes root?

Pregnant women must not eat Trichosanthes root.

This is because Trichosanthes root contains certain substances called trichosanthin, and also contains some enzyme-inhibiting components. They can cause disorders in placental circulation and nutrition, affect the endocrine function of the placenta, trigger uterine contractions, and lead to miscarriage. Most hospitals use Trichosanthes root injection to induce labor.

5. What is the price of Trichosanthes root?

Summary: Trichosanthes root has benefits such as clearing heat and purging fire, promoting body fluid production and quenching thirst, and reducing swelling and discharging pus, but some groups of people cannot take it, especially pregnant women, who must avoid it. Also, the dosage of Trichosanthes root must not be too large, and it cannot be taken together with Aconitum medicinal materials. Trichosanthes root can be drunk as an infusion. Not only that, it can also be made into tea, decocted as a soup, or cooked into congee.