泻热，凉血
苦坚肾，寒凉血。入阳明（胃，大肠）血分。
治热毒血痢（仲景治热痢，有白头翁汤合黄连、黄柏、秦皮。东垣曰∶骨欲坚，急食苦
以坚之。痢则下焦虚，故以纯苦之剂坚之），温疟寒热，齿痛骨痛（肾主齿骨，龈属阳明），
鼻衄秃疮，瘰 疝瘕，血痔偏坠（捣敷患处）。明目消疣。
有风反静，无风则摇，近根外有白茸。得酒良。
即土瓜根
泻热，利水，行血
苦寒。泻热利水。治天行热疾，黄胆消渴（捣汁饮），便数带下，月闭瘀血。利大、小
肠，排脓消肿，下乳（通乳药多用之，单服亦可）堕胎。
根如栝蒌之小者，味如山药，根、子通用（《经疏》曰∶主治略似栝蒌。伤寒发斑，用
王瓜捣汁，和伏龙肝末服，甚效）。
通，行血
甘苦而平。其性行而不住，能走血分、通血脉，乃阳明、冲、任之药（阳明多气多血）。
除风去痹，止血定痛，通经利便，下乳（俗云∶穿山甲、王不留行妇人服之乳长流）催
生。治金疮（止血）痈疮（散血），出竹、木刺。孕妇忌之。
花如铃铎，实如灯笼，子壳五棱。取苗子蒸，浆水浸用。
滑肠，利窍
甘寒淡滑。润燥利窍，通营卫，滋气脉，行津液，利二便，消水肿（用榆皮等分煎服），
通关格，下乳滑胎。
秋葵复种，经冬至春作子者，名冬葵子。根、叶同功。春葵子亦滑，不堪入药。
蜀葵花，赤者治赤带，白者治白带，赤者治血燥，白者治气燥。亦治血淋、关格，皆取
其寒润滑利之功也。
Clear heat, cool blood.
Bitterness solidifies the Kidney, coldness cools the blood. Enters the Blood aspect of the Yangming (Stomach, Large Intestine) channel.
Treats toxic heat dysentery with blood (Zhang Zhongjing treated hot dysentery using Baitouweng Tang combined with Huanglian, Huangbai, and Qinpi; Li Dongyuan said: Bones desire to be solid, urgently eat bitter foods to solidify them. Dysentery causes deficiency in the Lower Jiao, thus pure bitter agents are used to solidify it), warm malaria with alternating chills and fever, toothache and bone pain (the Kidney governs teeth and bones, gums belong to Yangming), epistaxis, alopecia and sores, scrofula, hernia, and masses, bloody hemorrhoids and unilateral testicular swelling (mash and apply to the affected area). Brightens the eyes, eliminates warts.
Still when there is wind, sways when there is no wind, with white down outside near the root. Beneficial when processed with wine.
Also known as Tugua Gen (Radix Trichosanthis Kirilowii).
Clear heat, promote urination, move blood.
Bitter and cold. Clears heat and promotes urination. Treats epidemic febrile diseases, jaundice, and Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome) (drink the mashed juice), frequent urination, leukorrhea, amenorrhea due to blood stasis. Promotes urination via the Large and Small Intestines, expels pus, reduces swelling, promotes lactation (commonly used in galactagogues, can also be taken alone), induces abortion.
Root resembles a small Gua Lou (Trichosanthes fruit), taste similar to Shan Yao (Dioscorea rhizome), root and seed are interchangeable (Jing Shu states: Main indications are slightly similar to Gua Lou. For erythema exanthematicum due to Cold Damage, use Wang Gua mashed juice mixed with Fulong Gan powder, very effective).
Unblocking, moving blood.
Sweet and bitter, neutral in nature. Its nature moves without staying, able to enter the blood aspect and unblock blood vessels, acting on the Yangming, Chong, and Ren channels (Yangming has abundant Qi and blood).
Dispels wind, removes bi-syndrome, stops bleeding, alleviates pain, unblocks menstruation, facilitates defecation, promotes lactation (folk saying: Pangolin scales and Galanga fruit, when taken by women, cause milk to flow continuously), induces labor. Treats metal wounds (stops bleeding), carbuncles and sores (disperses blood), extracts bamboo or wood splinters. Contraindicated in pregnancy.
Flowers resemble bells, fruits resemble lanterns, seed shells have five ridges. Take the shoots and seeds, steam them, soak in sour rice water for use.
Slippery intestines, unblock orifices.
Sweet, cold, bland, and slippery. Moistens dryness and unblocks orifices, circulates Ying and Wei, nourishes Qi and vessels, moves body fluids, facilitates urination and defecation, reduces edema (use Yu Pi equal parts decocted and taken), unblocks Guan Ge (obstruction syndrome), promotes lactation, slips the fetus.
Qiu Kui replanted, producing seeds after winter into spring, is named Dong Kui Zi (Winter Okra Seed). Roots and leaves have the same efficacy. Chun Kui Zi (Spring Okra Seed) is also slippery but unsuitable for medicinal use.
Shu Kui Hua (Hibiscus mutabilis flower): Red treats red leukorrhea, white treats white leukorrhea; red treats blood dryness, white treats Qi dryness. Also treats bloody strangury and Guan Ge, all utilizing its cold, slippery, and lubricating properties.