Ma Dou Ling vs Crescentia Cujete

A TCM herb historically used for lung heat cough - now rarely used due to aristolochic acid toxicity.

Tropical American tree producing large gourd-like fruits used medicinally across Latin America for respiratory conditions, wound healing, and as a traditional cough syrup.

aristolochic acid, magnoflorine, allantoin

crescentin, phenolics, saponins, flavonoids, sterols

lung heat cough, hemorrhoids, hypertension

cough, bronchitis, wound healing, hypertension, constipation

antitussive, anti-inflammatory

expectorant, antimicrobial, wound healing, antihypertensive

Professional use only due to nephrotoxicity

Fruit syrup 30ml 3x daily or decoction 200ml

kidney disease, pregnancy - teratogenic

pregnancy, excessive use, allergy

irreversible nephrotoxicity, urothelial cancer

nausea at high doses, mild laxative effect