Use of Si Gua Luo (sponge gourds) in TCM

Please note that you should never self-prescribe TCM ingredients. A TCM ingredient is almost never eaten on its own but as part of a formula containing several ingredients that act together. Please consult a professional TCM practitioner, they will be best able to guide you.

Preparation: Let the sponge gourds grow until they dry on the vine. Bang the gourds around to loosen the seeds, peel the skin off, squeeze and rinse the gourd until all that remains is a sponge-like texture.

Dosage: 9-15g

Main actions according to TCM*: Removes obstructions in the Collaterals, promotes blood circulation and cools Blood, clears heat and detoxifies. Facilitate lactation.

Primary conditions or symptoms for which Si Gua Luo may be prescribed by TCM doctors*: Rheumatoid arthritis Chest pain Mastitis Clogged milk ducts Asthma Hemorrhoids Edema Fever

Common TCM formulas in which Si Gua Luo is used*

Key TCM concepts behind Si Gua Luo's properties

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Si Gua Luo belongs to the 'Herbs that stabilize and bind' category. This category of herbs is used for treating abnormal discharges and displacement of Organs. This includes conditions such as diarrhea, discharges from the vagina, penis or rectum as well as prolapse of the Uterus or rectum. It is important to note that herbs in this category only treat symptoms, so one should also use herbs to treat the underlying Deficiency.

Furthermore Si Gua Luo is Neutral in nature. This means that Si Gua Luo typically doesn't affect the balance in your body. Balance between Yin and Yang is a key health concept in TCM. Eating too many "Hot" (Yang) ingredients can lead to an imbalance whereby one has a Yang Excess. The inverse is true as well: too many "Cold" (Yin) ingredients can lead to a Yin Excess. The Neutral nature of Si Gua Luo means that you don't have to worry about that!

Si Gua Luo also tastes Sweet. The so-called 'Five Phases' theory in Chinese Medicine states that the taste of TCM ingredients is a key determinant of their action in the body. Sweet ingredients like Si Gua Luo tends to slow down acute reactions and detoxify the body. They also have a tonic effect because they replenish Qi and Blood.

The tastes of ingredients in TCM also determine what Organs and Meridians they target. As such Si Gua Luo is thought to target the Liver, the Lung and the Stomach. In TCM the Liver is often referred as the body's "general" because it is in charge of regulating the movements of Qi and the Body Fluids. It also takes a leading role in balancing our emotions. In addition to performing respiration, the Lungs are thought in TCM to be a key part of the production chain for Qi and the Body Fluids that nourish the body. The Stomach is responsible for receiving and ripening ingested food and fluids. It is also tasked with descending the digested elements downwards to the Small Intestine.

Research on Si Gua Luo

The medicinal properties exhibited by Luffa Cylindrica may be attributed to the presence of flavonoids like apigenin and triterpenoid sapogenins like lucyin A, lucyosides G.¹.

Sources:

1. S Partap, A Kumar, NK Sharma et al. "Luffa Cylindrica: An important medicinal plant" pdfs.semanticscholar.org, 2012

Use of Si Gua Luo as food

Si Gua Luo is also eaten as food. It is used as an ingredient in dishes such as Sponge gourd curry or Stuffed sponge gourd.