补，和脾，舒筋，涩，敛肺
酸涩而温。入脾、肺血分。敛肺和胃，理脾伐肝，化食（酸能敛，敛则化，与山查同）
止渴（酸能生津），气脱能收，气滞能和，调营卫，利筋骨，去湿热，消水胀。
治霍乱转筋（夏月暑湿，邪伤脾胃。阳不升，阴不降，则挥霍撩乱，上吐下泻，甚则肝
木乘脾，而筋为之转也。《食疗》云∶煮汁饮良。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，音肥，足肚也，腓及宗筋，皆属阳明。木瓜治转筋
，取其理筋以伐肝也。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。陶宏景曰∶凡转筋呼木瓜名，写木瓜字，皆愈），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，第胫肿掣痛为异耳。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、
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！有大僚舟
过金陵，爱其芬馥，购数百颗置之舟中，举舟人皆病溺不得出，医以通利药罔效。迎予视之，
闻四面皆木瓜香，笑谓诸人曰∶彻去此物，溺即出矣，不必用药也。于是尽投江中，顷之，
溺皆如旧）。陈者良（香薷饮用之，取其和脾去湿，补肺生金）。忌铁。
Tonifies, harmonizes the Spleen, relaxes the sinews, astringent, and consolidates the Lung.
Acid and astringent in taste, warm in nature. Enters the Blood aspect of the Spleen and Lung meridians. Consolidates the Lung and harmonizes the Stomach, regulates the Spleen and subdues the Liver, resolves food stagnation (Acidity can astringe; astringency leads to transformation, similar to *Crataegi Fructus* [Shanzha, 山楂]).
Generates fluids and relieves thirst (Acidity can generate body fluids), collects Qi that is sinking or escaping, harmonizes Qi stagnation, regulates Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi), benefits the sinews and bones, dispels damp-heat, and reduces edema and distension.
Treats Huoluan (Colic with vomiting and diarrhea) with tendon spasms (In summer, pathogenic heat-dampness injures the Spleen and Stomach. Yang fails to ascend, Yin fails to descend, causing chaotic gastrointestinal dysfunction with severe vomiting and diarrhea. In severe cases, Liver Wood overacts on Spleen Earth, leading to tendon spasms. *Shiliao* states: boiling it into juice for drinking is beneficial. Li Shizhen stated: Although the Liver governs the sinews, tendon spasms are caused by wind-cold-damp-heat pathogens invading and injuring the Spleen and Stomach. Spasms typically begin in the calf. "Fei" (pronounced "fei") refers to the calf muscle. Both the calf and the Zongjin (Major Sinew) belong to the Yangming meridian. Papaya treats spasms by regulating the sinews to subdue the Liver. When Spleen Earth is diseased, Lung Metal weakens and Liver Wood becomes excessive. Therefore, acid-warm substances are used to collect the dissipating Qi of the Spleen and Lung, and their ability to travel to the sinews is borrowed to calm Liver pathogenic factors. This is draining Wood from within Earth to assist Metal. Tao Hongjing stated: Whenever one suffers from spasms, calling out the name "Papaya" or writing the character "Papaya" will result in a cure), dysentery, and Jiaogi (Beriberi/Leg Qi) (The Spleen governs the four limbs. If cold-dampness injures the collaterals of the feet, or if the Stomach receives damp-heat from food, which then transmits upward to the Spleen and flows downward to the feet, Jiaogi results. 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 clear dampness and clearing heat; tonics and washing therapies are contraindicated. Once, a patient suffering from foot numbness was on a boat and saw a bag, resting his foot against it. By the time he disembarked, his foot could walk normally. Upon inquiry, the bag contained Papaya), and weakness of the waist and legs.
Excessive consumption damages teeth and bones.
Treats Longbi (Difficulty in urination/Urinary retention) (Due to excessive astringent action. Zheng Dianyi stated: Papaya is an acid-astringent substance; using it to treat edema and abdominal distension is erroneous! A high official once passed through Jinling by boat, admiring its fragrance, and purchased hundreds of fruits to place in the cabin. Consequently, all the boatmen suffered from urinary retention. Physicians administered diuretics without effect. I was summoned to examine them. Smelling the fragrance of Papaya everywhere, I laughed and said to the men: Remove these items, and your urine will flow freely; no medicine is needed. They threw all the Papaya into the river, and shortly after, urination returned to normal).
Aged Papaya is superior (Used in Xiangru Yin [Mosla Decoction] to harmonize the Spleen, dispel dampness, tonify the Lung, and generate Metal).
Contraindicated with iron.