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[Classified as Lower Grade in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica)]
[Flavor and Nature] Bitter, Cold, Toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats edema of the body, face, and limbs caused by excessive water retention; promotes the downward movement of water; kills gu poison (parasitic disease); treats cough with rebellious qi; and conditions where fruit consumption leads to pathogenic factors lodged in the chest and abdomen. All such conditions are treated by inducing vomiting or purging.
[Evidence] It states: Available everywhere, growing between high grounds of Song Mountain and flat marshes. This is the pedicel (calyx/stem) of the sweet melon (*Cucumis melo*). Sown in March, it grows via creeping vines. Leaves are several inches long. Yellow flowers bloom in May and June; fruits mature in June and July. Shapes vary: round, long, pointed, or flat. Sizes range from one chi (approx. 33 cm) in diameter to small enough to be held in a pinch. Some have ridges, some do not. Colors include green, dark green, yellow with spots, speckled, white veins, or yellow veins. Flesh can be white or red; seeds can be yellow, red, white, or black. Agricultural texts state that melon varieties are numerous and cannot be listed individually. Named by shape: Dragon Liver, Tiger Palm, Rabbit Head, Civet Cat Head, Sheep Marrow, Honey Tube. Named by color: Black Melon, White Round, Yellow [character missing], White [character missing], Small Green, Large Spotted. However, their flavors only differ in intensity and sweetness/aroma. *Guang Zhi* states that melons from Liaodong, Dunhuang, and Lujiang are superior. Yet, large melons from Guazhou, imperial melons from Yangzhou, warm melons from Western Shu, and cold melons from Yongjia cannot be simply ranked as better or worse. Sweet melons from Gansu have both skin and flesh that are sweet, sweeter than sugar and honey; even dried melon skin remains delicious. In Zhejiang, there is a "Yin Melon" grown in shaded areas; when ripe, it is golden yellow with slightly thick skin, stored until the following spring, tasting fresh. These results from skilled cultivation techniques and need not be restricted by geography. For processing, do not use the pedicel of white melons. Select green melons; take the pedicel that naturally falls onto the vine when the Qi is sufficient. After harvesting, hang it in a ventilated corner on the east side of the house to dry by wind.
[Innovation/Analysis] It states: The shape of the melon resembles its substance, which lies within the tendrils and vines; thus it should be called "Di" (pedicel), the part connecting the melon to the vine. Its nature tends toward vine extension; the end is more vigorous than the root, so if extended too much, it rots. *Erya* says: "Its continuation is Dié." Commentary explains: "Continuing from the root is called Shao; small shape is called Dié. Therefore, melons near the root are often small, while those near the end become larger." Among all fruits, the melon absorbs water and fluids most significantly, and the pivot for this absorption is solely the pedicel. Thus, the pedicel possesses the function of clearing downward and surging upward. Hence, the pedicel tastes bitter while the melon flesh is sweet, demonstrating the distinction of the central pivot from the upper/lower and inner/outer. It is truly a dispersing and unblocking agent for vomiting and purging. Therefore, it treats excess water dampness in the chest and abdomen, overflowing to cause edema of the body, face, and limbs; or gu poison; or cough with rebellious qi; or pathogenic factors from fruit consumption in the chest and abdomen. All can be expelled by vomiting (surging up) or purging (draining down). Vomiting acts closer to the middle-upper region; purging acts closer to the middle-lower region. Since it acts on the pivot, both vomiting and purging are suitable. The Classic states: "Sour and bitter flavors induce vomiting and purging, belonging to Yin." Therefore, its nature is Cold, and its flavor is Bitter.
(Modern people know only that Dianthus pedicel [Gua Di] is used as an emetic, unaware that it can also be used as a cathartic. While there is Gua Di San in emetic formulas, few cathartic formulas in medical books use Gua Di. This has led to a reduction in its purging efficacy, and the character 'Xie' (drain/purge) has been misinterpreted as 'Shang Xie' (upward surging/vomiting). Errors have propagated through generations, and other books citing 'Xie' have had no time to distinguish the meanings.)