Slender Dutchmanspipe Fruit

Primarily produced in the Chinese province of northeast, northern areas and Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Shandong, Jiangxi, Hubei.

Oval shape, 3~7cm long, 2~4cm diameter. Externally yellowish-green, grayish-green or brown, with 12 longitudinal ridges, numerous parallel horizontal veins divided by longitudinal ridges. Flat and blunt top, base has thin and long fruit stem. Fruit skin is light and brittle, easily cracked into 6 lobes, as is the fruit stem. Inner fruit surface is smooth and lustrous, with relatively dense horizontal veins. Fruit has 6 chambers; each has numerous seeds, which are arranged in an even and regular structure. Seed is flat and thin, blunt triangular or fan-shaped, 6~10mm long, 8~12mm wide, edge is upturned, pale brown. Distinctive odor, slightly bitter taste.

Superior medicinal material is large, yellowish-green, unbroken.

Bitter, slightly cold

Clears lung, downbears qi, stops cough, calms panting, clears intestines, eliminates haemorrhoid. Apply to use for dyspnea and cough due to lung-heat, bloody sputum, hemorrhage due to intestinal heat and hemorrhoids and pain due to swelling.