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Sweet in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. It primarily treats erysipelas (acute skin infection characterized by redness), irritability and heat, wind-rash, adverse reactions caused by mineral drugs, and the sensation of qi rushing upward from the lower abdomen to the chest (Ben Tun). Ri Hua Zi stated: It is cold. It benefits qi, eliminates heat-toxic wind, thickens the stomach and intestines, serves as a pillow to brighten the eyes, and treats head-wind headache. Meng Shen stated: It tonifies and benefits, harmonizes the five zang organs, calms the spirit, and unblocks the twelve meridians; this herb is considered superior. Nowadays, people eat it peeled; however, for therapeutic purposes, it must be used with the peel. Additionally, its juice is ground to treat polydipsia (wasting-thirst syndrome), dispel floating wind, and benefit qi strength.

Neutral in nature, non-toxic. It tonifies the five zang organs, benefits middle jiao qi, assists the twelve meridians, regulates the middle jiao, and warms the stomach and intestines. Sun Simiao stated: It is suitable for the Kidney and expels evil qi.

Sour in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. It primarily treats the resolution of carbuncles and swelling, disperses water qi, and kills toxic pathogens. Ri Hua Zi stated: It treats postpartum women and injuries, as well as traumatic bleeding with dizziness, directs qi downward, relieves irritability, breaks up masses, treats heart pain in women, enhances the efficacy of other herbs, and kills all fish, meat, and vegetable poisons. Rice vinegar has similar functions. It is said: Commonly known as bitter wine, also referred to as xi (vinegar).

Sweet in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. It primarily treats cold and heat disorders of the five zang and six fu organs, emaciation, five types of strangury (difficulty in urination), promotes urination, treats breast milk retention in women, internal obstruction, [text unclear], and promotes muscle growth. *Yao Xing Lun* stated: It acts as an assistant drug. Slippery, neutral. It can treat five types of lin syndrome, primarily addresses breast swelling, and promotes lactation. Root: Treats malignant sores and cases where children have swallowed coins that cannot pass. Leaves: Treat traumatic wounds, lubricates the small intestine, and treats epidemic jaundice. Ri Hua Zi stated: Long-term use strengthens bones and tendons. Scutellariae Radix (Huang Qin) serves as its guiding herb.

Bitter in flavor, cold in nature, toxic. It primarily treats severe edema, facial and limb swelling, promotes diuresis to reduce swelling, kills gu poison (parasitic toxicity), and treats cough with rebellious qi. Ri Hua Zi stated: It treats brain congestion, [missing character] heat, blurred vision, and expectoration. One theory states: It is the stalk of the melon. *Yao Xing Lun* stated: It acts as an envoy drug. Stem: Primarily treats [missing character] nose. Mixed with adzuki beans and cloves and insufflated into the nose to treat jaundice. Flower: Primarily treats heart pain and cough with rebellious qi. Flesh: Primarily treats irritability and thirst, clears heat. Excessive consumption [missing character] primarily treats intra-abdominal accumulation, ruptures pus and blood, and is a crucial herb for gastrointestinal and splenic stagnation.

Pungent in flavor, warm in nature, slightly toxic. It aids digestion, treats the five zang organs, tonifies deficiencies, promotes urination through the large and small intestines, unblocks qi in the lower abdomen, stops headaches, treats sand-rash (measles-like diseases), and conditions where bean-pox does not erupt. It primarily treats gu poison and five types of hemorrhoids. *Shi Liao* stated: Neutral. It benefits the five zang organs, tonifies sinews and vessels, and primarily aids digestion.