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Dietary supplement

Gua Lou Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Hawaii Pharm

Gua Lou label
See full label image
Liquid Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Gua Lou against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Gua Lou is a dietary supplement by Hawaii Pharm with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for cough and chest congestion, constipation, diabetes (traditional use).Based on those ingredients, 86 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are wildcrafted Gua Lou extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Gua Lou by Hawaii Pharm

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Gua Lou by Hawaii Pharm — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Gua Lou by Hawaii Pharm

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Jul 11, 2026

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: wildcrafted Gua Lou extract, which comes from Chinese cucumber. It's prepared as a liquid extract with vegetable palm glycerin, pharmaceutical-grade alcohol, and purified water.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

This is a single-ingredient Chinese Cucumber product and its label doesn't state a use — see Chinese Cucumber's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

The evidence we hold shows insufficient reliable data to rate Chinese cucumber for osteoarthritis. We can't tell you whether it works for that purpose based on what's in our monograph.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Chinese Cucumber

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Orally, Chinese cucumber fruit can cause mild diarrhea and stomach discomfort. Unprocessed seeds can trigger stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Chinese cucumber is rated likely unsafe in pregnancy — it can cause abortion and must be avoided. There isn't enough safety information for breastfeeding, so it's best avoided then too.

Note: some forms of Chinese cucumber, especially injectable trichosanthin, can cause serious harm and should only be used under medical supervision.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Chinese Cucumber

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Chinese Cucumber.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 86 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Check your blood sugar medications (insulin and oral diabetes drugs) with a pharmacist before you start. They interact with Chinese cucumber at a Moderate severity level.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

If you take diabetes medications, talk to your pharmacist before starting this product — your blood sugar will need monitoring and your dose may need adjusting. This product is not suitable in pregnancy or breastfeeding.

The evidence for osteoarthritis isn't established in our data.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Nov 21, 2020.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Gua Lou, straight from the product label.

Brand Hawaii Pharm
Barcode (UPC) 0787699218946
Net contents 4 Fluid Ounce(s); 120 mL
Market status Off market
Date entered into DSLD Nov 21, 2020
DSLD ID 237722
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Gua Lou by Hawaii Pharm, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
0.7 mL
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 mL
Servings per container
120
UPC/BARCODE
0787699218946
IngredientAmount% DV
wildcrafted Gua Lou extract970 mg--

Other ingredients: Vegetable Palm Glycerin, pharmaceutical grade Alcohol, artesian Hawaiian purified Water

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
General Statements

Hawaii Pharm Herbal Extract Highest quality since 2008

Made with Aloha!

Formulation

Contains no GMO, gluten, artificial colors, heavy metals, preservatives, pesticides, fertilizers.

Super concentrated liquid herbal extract. Dry herb/menstruum ratio: 1:3.

Manufactured in an FDA registered facility.

Non GMO Gluten free

Made in USA, Hawaii

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions for use: Shake well before using. Take about 20-30 drops (0.7-1 ml, one full squeeze of the dropper bulb) to 2-4 oz of juice or water up to 4 times per day.

Precautions

Warning: Keep out of the reach of children.

May have contraindications. We recommend to seek expert medical advice before taking.

Do not use if you are allergic to any ingredients.

Consult a physician before using during pregnancy, if nursing or taking any medications.

Do not use if seal is broken or missing.

Storage

Store in a cool dry place.

Formula

(Trichosanthes kirilowii)

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Dietary Supplement

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Seals/Symbols

FDA Registered Facility Made in United States of America USA

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Gua Lou by Hawaii Pharm label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

Gua Lou label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Gua Lou by Hawaii Pharm

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size0.7 mL Dosage formLiquid Servings per container120 Amounts shown are per serving.

Wildcrafted Gua Lou extract

Interacts with
86 drugs
970 mg per serving

Chinese cucumber (Trichosanthes kirilowii) is a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine, and a protein from its root called trichosanthin (Compound...

Wildcrafted Gua Lou extract monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Vegetable Palm Glycerin, Pharmaceutical grade Alcohol, Artesian Hawaiian purified Water. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Gua Lou by Hawaii Pharm Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Gua Lou?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

 Go to the checker
86Drugs
86 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

wildcrafted Gua Lou extract 86

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Gua Lou interact with 86 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Gua Lou interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. wildcrafted Gua Lou extract

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Gua Lou with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

wildcrafted Gua Lou extract1 drug type · 86 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, concomitant use of Chinese cucumber with antidiabetic drugs may have additive effects and adverse effects. Monitor blood glucose levels closely, dose adjustment may be needed.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
wildcrafted Gua Lou extract full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Gua Lou, from the product label.

Hawaii Pharm

See all Hawaii Pharm products
Name
Hawaii Pharm LLC
City
Honolulu
State
HI
ZipCode
96815
Web Address
www.hawaiipharm.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Gua Lou by Hawaii Pharm: Common Questions

Does Gua Lou by Hawaii Pharm interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Gua Lou has a known interaction with 86 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Gua Lou contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. Chinese cucumber is rated likely unsafe in pregnancy — it can cause abortion. There also isn't enough safety data for breastfeeding, so it's best avoided. Talk to your doctor or midwife about what's safe for you.
What side effects might I get?
Orally, the fruit can cause mild diarrhea and stomach discomfort. Unprocessed seeds may cause stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If these bother you, stop and talk to your pharmacist.
Does it really work for osteoarthritis?
We don't have reliable evidence to say. The data we hold rates it insufficient to rate for that use, so we can't confirm it works.
Is this the same as trichosanthin injections I've heard about?
No. This is an oral liquid extract. Trichosanthin is a protein in Chinese cucumber that's sometimes used as an injectable — that form can be dangerous and is only for medical supervision. This product is the extract form, which is milder, but the safety cautions still apply.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Gua Lou is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Gua Lou label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Gua Lou’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Chinese Cucumber

Interacts with 86 drugs

Chinese cucumber (Trichosanthes kirilowii) is a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine, and a protein from its root called trichosanthin (Compound Q) has been studied as an injectable dr...

Read the full Chinese Cucumber monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Gua Lou's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 4 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Chinese Cucumber 4 references
  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  3. Hikino H, Yoshizawa M, Suzuki Y, et al. Isolation and hypoglycemic activity of trichosans A, B, C, D, and E: glycans of Trichosanthes kirilowii roots. Planta Med 1989;55:349-50.
  4. Jung YB, Roh KJ, Jung JA, et al. Effect of SKI 306X, a new herbal anti-arthritic agent, in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a double-blind placebo controlled study. Am J Chin Med. 2001;29(3-4):485-91. PubMed

See these in context on the Chinese Cucumber monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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