Gorgon fruit

Gorgon fruit

　　Gorgon fruit, also known as chicken head seed, is the fruit of an aquatic plant in the Nymphaeaceae family. It typically grows in shallow waters of ponds, marshes, and lakes. The fruit is edible and also used for medicinal purposes. It is produced in regions such as Hunan, Jiangsu, Hubei, and Anhui, and is considered excellent for strengthening the spleen and kidneys.

　　 It benefits the kidneys and consolidates essence, nourishes the spleen and calms diarrhea, removes dampness and stops vaginal discharge. It also tonifies the middle energizer and benefits qi, making it a nourishing and strengthening food, somewhat similar to lotus seeds. However, gorgon fruit has a stronger astringent and calming effect than lotus seeds, making it suitable for chronic diarrhea and frequent urination, spermatorrhea and seminal emission, as well as prolonged diarrhea due to spleen deficiency.

　　 Gorgon fruit can both strengthen the spleen and remove dampness, as well as consolidate and calm diarrhea. It is used for conditions of spleen deficiency and excessive dampness, and persistent diarrhea that does not heal. It is often combined with spleen-strengthening herbs such as white atractylodes, poria, and hyacinth bean.

　　 For women experiencing excessive vaginal discharge and soreness in the lower back, gorgon fruit can effectively benefit the kidneys and spleen, as well as consolidate and astringe, thus having a good effect on stopping vaginal discharge and treating leukorrhea. To treat damp-heat leukorrhea, it can be paired with heat-clearing and damp-draining herbs such as phellodendron bark and plantain seed, as in the Yi Huang San decoction; for leukorrhea caused by spleen-kidney deficiency, it can be used together with spleen-kidney tonics such as codonopsis, white atractylodes, and Chinese yam.