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Also known as Bai Gua (White Melon).

[It can] clear heat and tonify the spleen.
Its nature is cold to clear heat, its flavor is sweet to benefit the spleen. It promotes urination and defecation, reduces edema (Donggua [Benincasa hispida fruit] is effective regardless of how it is consumed), stops xiao ke (wasting-thirst; both the seedling and leaves treat wasting-thirst), and dissipates heat-toxin.
Carbuncles and sores (Slice and apply externally. Zhu Danxi said: Donggua has an urgent and dispersing nature; those with chronic illness and yin deficiency should avoid it. Wang Ang's note: Donggua is a common daily food, and among all melons, it feels particularly agreeable. Moreover, its flavor is sweet and not pungent; how can one say its nature is urgent and dispersing?).
Seeds: Tonify the liver and brighten the eyes (All melon seeds used in medicines refer to Donggua Zi [Benincasa hispida seed]).

[It can] clear heat and cool blood, unblock and promote collaterals.
Flavor is sweet and neutral (Su Song stated it is cold). It cools blood and resolves toxicity, dispels wind and transforms phlegm, unblocks collaterals, and moves blood vessels (The tendons and collaterals of the elderly penetrate throughout the body, resembling human collaterals; thus, one can borrow its qi to guide them), reduce swelling, and thin out smallpox lesions (If eruption is slow, calcine until carbonized, mix with Cinnabar [Zhusha], and take mixed with honey water). It treats intestinal wind and metrorrhagia/metrostaxis, hernia, hemorrhoids, carbuncles, and ulcers; it lubricates the intestines and promotes lactation.

[It can] disperse blood and reduce swelling.
Disperses blood and reduces swelling. Boil juice and soak for frostbite (Shi Guogong Medicinal Wine uses Bai Qie Gen [Solanum melongena root] as the chief ingredient. Qie Gen is soaked in horse urine for three days, sun-dried, stir-fried, and ground into powder; applied to teeth, they fall out).
Qiezi (Eggplant) is sweet and cold; it disperses blood and relaxes the intestines, but may stir up wind and trigger disease.

Heavy in nature, calms the heart and liver, stabilizes depression and palpitations.
Flavor is pungent and neutral, toxic (Raw Jin Xie [Gold flakes] kills if taken. Wang Ang's note: The nature of gold is extremely rigid, heavy, and descending, which is incompatible with flesh-and-blood bodies; thus, ingestion leads to death, not because its nature is inherently toxic. When humans are burned by gold or silver, there is no ulceration, proving it is non-toxic. Refined gold and pure jade are treasures of the world; how could they possess toxic vapors?). Gold controls Wood; its heaviness calms timidity; therefore, it calms the heart and liver and settles the soul and spirit (Although described as heavy and descending, it also borrows its precious qi. Ancient formulas include Hong Xue [Red Snow] and Zi Xue [Purple Snow], both made by boiling gold and silver together, borrowing their qi). It treats jing xian (convulsions and epilepsy) and wind-heat, and diseases of the liver and gallbladder (Wind-heat in the Liver channel causes convulsions, epilepsy, loss of will, and flying soul/spirit. The Liver belongs to Wood and fears Metal; it shares a mother-son relationship with the Heart; thus, their diseases share the same origin and treatment). For pills and powders, use Jin Bo (Gold Foil) as coating; for decoctions, add to herbs for boiling. It is incompatible with Lead [Qian] and Mercury [Shuiyin] (Crumbles upon contact with lead; all five metals fear mercury).