和脾舒筋、涩敛肺。
酸涩而温。和脾理胃。敛肺伐肝。化食（酸能敛、敛则化、与山楂同。）止渴。（酸能生
津。）
气脱能收。气滞能和，调营卫，利筋骨。（筋急者、得之即舒、筋缓者、遇之即利。）去湿热
。消水胀。治霍乱转筋。（邪伤脾胃、清浊不分、挥霍扰乱、上吐下泻、甚则肝木乘脾、而
筋为之转也、时珍曰∶肝虽主筋、而转筋则因风寒湿热袭伤脾胃所致、转筋必起于足腓、腓
及宗筋、皆属阳明、木瓜治转筋、取其理脾以伐肝也、土病则金衰而木盛、故用酸温以收脾
肺之耗散、而借其走筋以平肝邪、乃土中泻木以助金也。）泻痢香港脚。（脾主四肢、或寒湿伤
于足络、或胃受湿热之物、上输于脾、下流至足、则成香港脚、恶寒发热、状类伤寒、第胫肿
掣痛为异尔、宜利湿清热、忌用补剂及淋洗、昔有患足痹者、趁舟、见舟中一袋、以足倚之
、比及登岸、足已善步矣、询袋中何物、乃木瓜也。）腰足无力。多食损齿及骨。病癃闭。
（酸收太甚、郑奠一曰∶木瓜乃酸涩之品、世用治水肿腹胀误矣、有大寮、舟过金陵、爱其
芬馥、购数百颗、置之舟中、举舟人皆病溺不得出、医以通利罔效、迎予视之、闻四面皆木
瓜香、笑谓诸人曰∶撤去此物、溺即出矣、不必用药也、于是尽投江中、顷之、溺即如旧。
）陈者良。忌铁。（反花痔疮、木瓜为末、以鳝鱼身上涎调贴之、以纸护住。辟除壁虱、木
瓜切片、铺于席上。）
Mu Gua (Chaenomeles Fruit) harmonizes the spleen, relaxes sinews, and astringes the lungs.
Its flavor is sour and astringent, and its nature is warm. It harmonizes the spleen and regulates the stomach, astringes the lungs, and subdues the liver.
It transforms food stagnation (sourness has an astringent property; astringency leads to transformation, similar to Shan Zha [Crataegi Fructus]).
It relieves thirst (sourness generates body fluids).
In cases of Qi collapse, it can secure and retain Qi; in cases of Qi stagnation, it can harmonize and move it. It regulates Ying and Wei (Defensive and Nutritive Qi), and benefits sinews and bones. (For those with tight sinews, relief comes immediately upon ingestion; for those with flaccid sinews, strength returns immediately.)
It dispels damp-heat.
It reduces edema and distension.
It treats Huo Luan (cholera-like syndrome) with muscle cramps (This occurs when pathogenic factors damage the spleen and stomach, causing turbid and clear Qi to mix chaotically, resulting in violent vomiting and diarrhea. Severe cases involve Liver Wood overacting on Spleen Earth, causing sinew torsion. Li Shizhen stated: Although the Liver governs the sinews, torsion is caused by wind-cold-damp-heat invading and damaging the spleen and stomach. Torsion typically begins in the calf muscles (Fei), which belong to the Yangming channel. Mu Gua treats torsion by regulating the spleen to subdue the liver. When Spleen Earth is diseased, Lung Metal weakens and Liver Wood becomes excessive. Thus, sour-warm Mu Gua is used to gather the dissipating Qi of the spleen and lungs, and leveraging its affinity for sinews to calm Liver pathogens. This is "draining Wood within Earth to assist Metal.")
It treats dysentery and Hong Zhang Jiao (foot-leg qi / beriberi). (The Spleen governs the four limbs. If cold-dampness injures the foot collaterals, or if the Stomach absorbs damp-heat which transmits upward to the Spleen and flows downward to the feet, Hong Zhang Jiao develops. Symptoms include aversion to cold and fever, resembling Taiyang disease, but distinguished by swelling and pulling pain in the shins. Treatment should focus on promoting urination to drain dampness and clearing heat; tonics and external washing are contraindicated. In the past, a patient with foot numbness was on a boat and leaned his foot against a bag. Upon disembarking, he could walk normally. He asked what was in the bag, and it was Mu Gua.)
It treats weakness of the waist and feet.
Excessive consumption damages teeth and bones.
It treats Long Bi (difficulty in urination / urinary retention). (If the astringent effect is too strong, Zheng Dianyi noted: Mu Gua is a sour-astringent substance; using it for edema and abdominal distension is incorrect. An official traveling by boat through Jinling loved its fragrance and bought hundreds of pieces, placing them in the cabin. All crew members suffered from urinary retention that could not be relieved. Medications for promoting urination were ineffective. I was summoned and smelled the fragrance of Mu Gua everywhere. Laughing, I said to the group: Remove this item, and urination will resume without medication. The Mu Gua was thrown into the river, and shortly after, urination returned to normal.)
Aged Mu Gua is superior.
Avoid iron. (Mu Gua powder mixed with slime from eel bodies can be applied to treat Fan Hua hemorrhoids, protected with paper. Slices of Mu Gua spread on mats repel bedbugs.)