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Watermelon (Xigua)
Sweet and cold in nature, it resolves summerheat. Its cooling and draining properties relieve irritability and steaming heat. It can eliminate dryness and thirst of the large intestine (Da Chang), and ensure clear, copious urination. (Watermelon is sweet and cold, growing in summer. All things born in summer can resolve summerheat. The method of resolving summerheat primarily involves clearing the Heart and promoting urination. Upon consumption, this substance immediately relieves irritability and thirst, instantly making urine clear and copious. Its functions can be generally inferred. This substance rots easily when exposed to alcohol or near glutinous rice; it becomes sandy if stepped on by a cat; its coldness increases after sun exposure. These are merely differences in physical properties.)

Areca Nut (Binglang)
It breaks down rebellious Qi at the highest level, eliminates accumulation and phlegm; it attacks pathogenic factors sinking to the extreme, entering the intestines and stomach. It kills parasites and interrupts malaria. Its flavor is pungent and bitter with a warm nature; it descends Qi and broadens the chest. Its nature is firm, rigid, and峻烈 (severe/forceful); it serves as a guiding agent for deep-cold conditions of Hong Kong foot (Jiaogongjiao - swelling and coldness of the feet), and helps eliminate miasma and retained fluids. (There are two types of Areca Nut: one is pointed and long, called Pointed Areca Nut, also known as Chicken-Heart Areca Nut; the other is round and flat, called Greater Belly Areca Nut, which is also the Greater Belly Seed. Although their nature, flavor, and indications are the same, the pointed variety is superior. Its nature is bitter, pungent, and warm; its texture is firm, rigid, and forceful. It descends all Qi and breaks all stagnation. When Qi descends, phlegm moves and fluids dissipate; when stagnation breaks, accumulation is removed and food digests. From this, it can be deduced that hernia and Hong Kong foot can be cured, the chest and diaphragm can be widened, and parasitic infestations and miasmic toxins are entirely eliminated. This substance specifically governs descending Qi. For any Qi in the body's zang-fu organs that is stagnant and not circulating freely, it can be used, without being restricted solely to entering the intestines and stomach.)

It disseminates pathogenic atmosphere in the chest and abdomen, promotes Spleen Qi and reaches Stomach Qi. It disperses Qi stagnation in the Lungs and intestines, drives out water retention, and relaxes the middle jiao. Its flavor is pungent and bitter with a warm nature; it is lightly dispersing but toxic. (Greater Belly Peel (Dafupi) is the bark of the Areca palm tree. The bark is toxic and must be washed clean before use. Its nature, flavor, and indications are the same as Areca Nut, but it lacks the Qi-descending power of Areca Nut; instead, it has the function of moving through the skin and disseminating. Therefore, it can be used for treating edema due to water retention in the skin and flesh, as well as conditions such as warm malaria with latent pathogens.)