（《纲目》）
【释名】天丝瓜（《本事》）、天罗（《事类合璧》）、布瓜（同上）、蛮瓜（《本事》）、鱼 。
时珍曰∶此瓜老则筋丝罗织，故有丝罗之名。昔人谓之鱼 ，或云虞刺。始自南方来，
故曰蛮瓜。
【集解】时珍曰∶丝瓜，唐宋以前无闻，今南北皆有之，以为常蔬。
二月下种，生苗引蔓，延树竹，或作棚架。其叶大于蜀葵而多丫尖，有细毛刺，取汁可
染绿。其茎有棱。六、七月开黄花，五出，微似胡瓜花，蕊瓣俱黄。其瓜大寸许，长一、二
尺，甚则三、四尺，深绿色，有皱点，瓜头如鳖首。嫩时去皮，可烹可曝，点茶充蔬。老则
大如杵，筋络缠纽如织成，经霜乃枯，惟可藉靴履，涤釜器，故村人呼为洗锅罗瓜。内有隔，
子在隔中，状如栝蒌子，黑色而扁。其花苞及嫩叶、卷须，皆可食也。
瓜
【气味】甘，平，无毒。
入药用老者。
【主治】痘疮不快，枯者烧存性，入朱砂研末，蜜水调服，甚妙（震亨）。煮食，除热
利肠。老者烧存性服，去风化痰，凉血解毒，杀虫，通经络，
行血脉，下乳汁，治大小便下血，痔漏崩中，黄积，疝痛卵肿，血气作痛，痈疽疮肿，齿 ，
痘疹胎毒（时珍）。暖胃补阳，固气和胎（《生生编》）。
【发明】颖曰∶丝瓜本草诸书无考，惟痘疮及脚痈方中烧灰用之，
亦取其性冷解毒耳。
时珍曰∶丝瓜老者，筋络贯串，房隔联属。故能通人脉络脏腑，而去风解毒，消肿化痰
，祛痛杀虫，及治诸血病也。
【附方】新二十八。
痘疮不快，初出或未出，多者令少，少者令稀∶老丝瓜（近蒂三寸）连皮烧存性，研末，
砂糖水服。（《直指》）。
痈疽不敛，疮口太深∶用丝瓜捣汁频抹之。（《直指方》）。
风热腮肿∶丝瓜烧存性，研末，水调搽之。（《严月轩方》）。
肺热面疮∶苦丝瓜、牙皂荚并烧灰，等分，油调搽。（《摘玄方》）。
玉茎疮溃∶丝瓜连子捣汁，和五倍子末，频搽之。（丹溪方）。
坐板疮疥∶丝瓜皮焙干为末，烧酒调搽之。（《摄生众妙方》）。
天泡湿疮∶丝瓜汁调辰粉，频搽之。
手足冻疮∶老丝瓜烧存性，和腊猪脂涂之。（《海上方》）。
肛门酒痔∶丝瓜烧存性，研末，酒服二钱。（《严月轩方》）。
痔漏脱肛∶丝瓜烧灰、多年锻石、雄黄各五钱为末，以猪胆、鸡子清及香油和调，贴之，
收上乃止。（孙氏《集效方》）。
肠风下血∶霜后干丝瓜烧存性，为末，空心酒服二钱。一名蛮瓜，一名天罗，一名天丝
瓜是矣。（许叔微《本事方》）。
下血危笃不可救者∶丝瓜（即天罗）一个（烧存性），槐花减半。为末，每空心米饮服
二钱。（《普济方》）。
酒痢便血，腹痛，或如鱼脑五色者∶干丝瓜一枚（连皮烧研），空心酒服二钱。一方煨
食之。俗名鱼 是也。（《经验良方》）。
血崩不止∶老丝瓜（烧灰）、棕榈（烧灰）等分，盐酒或盐汤服。（《奇效良方》）。
经脉不通∶干丝瓜一个为末，用白鸽血调成饼，晒干研末。每服二钱，空心酒下。先服
四物汤三服。（《海上名方》）。
乳汁不通∶丝瓜连子烧存性研。酒服一、二钱，被覆取汗即通。（《简便单方》）。
干血气痛，妇人血气不行，上冲心膈，变为干血气者∶用丝瓜一枚（烧存性），空心温
酒服。（《寿域神方》）。
小肠气痛，绕脐冲心∶连蒂老丝瓜烧存性，研末。每服三钱，热酒调下。甚者不过二、
三服即消。卵肿偏坠∶丝瓜架上初结者，留下，待瓜结尽叶落取下，烧存性为末，炼蜜调成
膏，每晚好酒服一匙。如在左左睡，在右右睡。（刘松石《保寿堂方》）。
腰痛不止∶天罗布瓜子仁炒焦，擂酒热服，以渣炒热敷之。（熊氏《补遗》）。
喉闭肿痛∶天罗瓜研汁灌之。（《普济》）。
卒然中风∶防风、荆芥一两，升麻半两，姜三片，水一盏，煎半盏，以丝瓜子研，取浆
半盏，和匀灌之。如手足麻痒，以羌活煎汤洗之。（唐瑶《经验方》）。
化痰止嗽∶天罗（即丝瓜），烧存性为末。
枣肉和，丸弹子大。每服一丸，温酒化下。（《摄生众妙方》）。
风虫牙痛∶经霜干丝瓜烧存性为末，擦之。（《直指方》）。
风气牙痛，百药不效者用此，大能去风，惟蛀牙不效。天罗（即生丝瓜）
一个，擦盐火烧存性，研末频擦，涎尽即愈。腮肿，以水调贴之。
马敏叔云∶此乃严月轩家传屡效之方，一试即便可睡也。
食积黄胆∶丝瓜连子烧存性，为末。每服二钱，因面得病面汤下，因酒得病温酒下，连
进数服愈。（《卫生易简方》）。
小儿浮肿∶天罗、灯草、葱白等分，煎浓汁服，并洗之。（《普济方》）。
水蛊腹胀∶老丝瓜去皮一枚（剪碎），巴豆十四粒，同炒，豆黄去豆，以瓜同陈仓米再
炒熟，去瓜，研米为末，糊丸梧子大。每服百丸，白汤下。盖米收胃气，巴豆逐水，丝瓜象
人脉络，借其气以引之也。此乃元时杭州名医宋会之之方。（鲜于枢《钩玄》）。
叶
【主治】癣疮，频 掺之。疗痈疽疔肿卵 （时珍）。
【附方】新六。
虫癣∶清晨采露水丝瓜叶七片，逐片擦七下，如神。忌鸡、鱼、发物。（《摄生众妙方》）。
阴子偏坠∶丝瓜叶（烧存性）三钱，鸡子壳（烧灰）二钱，温酒调服。（余居士《选奇
方》）
头疮生蛆，头皮内时有蛆出∶以刀切破，挤丝瓜叶汁搽之。蛆出尽，绝根。（小山《怪
证方》）。
汤火伤灼∶丝瓜叶焙研，入辰粉一钱，蜜调搽之。生者捣敷。一日即好也。（《海上名方》）。
鱼脐疔疮∶丝瓜叶（即虞刺叶也）、连须葱白、韭菜等分，同入石钵内，研烂取汁，以
热酒和服。以渣贴腋下，病在左手贴左腋，右手贴右腋；病在左脚贴左胯，右脚，贴右胯；
在中贴心、脐。用帛缚住，候肉下红线处皆白则散矣。如有潮热，亦用此法。却令人抱住，
恐其颤倒则难救矣。（危氏《得效方》）。
刀疮神药∶古锻石、新锻石、丝瓜根叶（初种放两叶者）、韭菜根各等分，捣一千下作
饼，阴干为末，擦之。止血定痛生肌，如神效。侍御苏海峰所传。（董炳《集验方》）
藤根
【气味】同叶。
【主治】齿 脑漏，杀虫解毒（时珍）。
【附方】新八。
预解痘毒∶五六月取丝瓜蔓上卷须阴干，至正月初一日子时，用二两半煎汤（父母只令
一人知），温浴小儿身面上下，以去胎毒，永不出痘，纵出亦少也。（《体仁汇编》）。
诸疮久溃∶丝瓜老根熬水扫之，大凉即愈。（《应验方》）。
喉风肿痛∶丝瓜根，以瓦瓶盛水浸，饮之。（《海上名方》）。
脑崩流汁，鼻中时时流臭黄水，脑痛，名控脑砂，有虫食脑中也∶用丝瓜藤近根三、五
尺，烧存性。每服一钱，温酒下，以愈为度。（《医学正传》）。
牙宣露痛《海上妙方》∶用丝瓜藤阴干，临时火 存性，研搽即止，最妙。《惠生堂方》∶
用丝瓜藤一握，川椒一撮，灯心一把，水煎浓汁，漱吐，其痛立住如神。咽喉骨鲠∶七月七
日，取丝瓜根阴干，烧存性。每服二钱，以原鲠物煮汤服之。（笔峰《杂兴》）。
腰痛不止∶丝瓜根烧存性，为末。每温酒服二钱，神效甚捷。（邓笔峰《杂兴》）。
【附录】天罗勒（《拾遗》）。藏器曰∶生江南平地。主溪毒， 碎敷之。
时珍曰∶陈氏注此不详。又江南呼丝瓜为天罗，疑即此物，然无的据，姑附之。
[Names] Tiangua (from *Benshi Fang*), Tianluo (from *Shilei Hebi*), Bugua (ibid.), Mangua (from *Benshi Fang*), Yugua.
Li Shizhen said: When this melon matures, its internal fibers weave into a net-like structure, hence the name "Silk Luo" (silk net). In ancient times, it was called "Yugua," or alternatively "Yuci." It originally came from the south, thus the name "Mangua" (barbarian melon).
[Collection and Explanation] Li Shizhen said: Si Gua (Luffa Fruit) was not recorded before the Tang and Song dynasties; now it is grown in both northern and southern regions as a common vegetable.
Seeds are sown in February. Vines sprout and climb trees or bamboo, or are trained on trellises. The leaves are larger than those of *Malva verticillata* (Chinese Hollyhock), with multiple lobed tips, covered in fine hairy spines; the extracted juice can be used to dye green. The stems have ridges. Yellow flowers bloom in June and July, with five petals, resembling cucumber flowers slightly, with yellow stamens and petals. The fruit is about one cun in diameter, one to two chi long, sometimes three to four chi long, dark green with wrinkled spots, and the head resembles that of a turtle. When young, after peeling, it can be cooked or dried for tea or vegetables. When old, it becomes as large as a pestle, with fibrous networks twisted like woven fabric; it withers only after frost and can be used to cushion boots or clean pots, so villagers call it "Xiguoluagua" (pot-washing net melon). Inside, there are septa containing seeds shaped like *Trichosanthes kirilowii* seeds, black and flat. Its flower buds, tender leaves, and tendrils are all edible.
[Flavor and Properties] Sweet, neutral, non-toxic.
The mature fruit is used for medicinal purposes.
[Indications] For poor development of smallpox lesions: Burn the old fruit until carbonized but retaining its nature (*Cunxing*), mix with *Cinnabaris* (Cinnabar) powder, and take with honey water; very effective (Zhenheng). Boiled and eaten, it clears heat and promotes bowel movement. Taken after burning to *Cunxing*, it dispels wind and resolves phlegm, cools blood and detoxifies, kills parasites, unblocks collaterals, promotes blood circulation, induces lactation, treats hematochezia and hematuria, hemorrhoids and fistulas, metrorrhagia, jaundice and accumulation, hernia pain with testicular swelling, qi and blood stagnation pain, carbuncles and sores, toothache, and smallpox fetal toxins (Li Shizhen). Warms the stomach and tonifies yang, stabilizes qi and secures the fetus (*Shengsheng Bian*).
[Elucidation] Ying said: Si Gua is not documented in various herbal texts; it is only burned to ash in formulas for smallpox and foot abscesses, utilizing its cold nature to detoxify.
Li Shizhen said: The fibers of the old Si Gua run through and connect, with chambers linked together. Therefore, it can unblock human meridians and organs, dispel wind and detoxify, reduce swelling and resolve phlegm, relieve pain and kill parasites, and treat various blood diseases.
[Attached Prescriptions] Twenty-eight new prescriptions.
For poor smallpox development, whether just emerging or not yet emerged, to reduce numerous eruptions and thin out sparse ones: Take the old Si Gua near the stem (three cun), burn with skin intact to *Cunxing*, grind to powder, and take with sugar water. (*Zhizhi*)
For non-healing carbuncles and sores with deep wounds: Apply fresh Si Gua juice frequently. (*Zhizhi Fang*)
For mumps caused by wind-heat: Burn Si Gua to *Cunxing*, grind to powder, mix with water, and apply externally. (*Yan Yuexuan Fang*)
For facial acne due to lung heat: Burn bitter Si Gua and *Gleditsia sinensis* pod to ash in equal parts, mix with oil, and apply externally. (*Zhaixuan Fang*)
For ulcerated penile sores: Crush Si Gua with seeds to extract juice, mix with *Myrobalan* powder, and apply frequently. (Danxi Formula)
For bedsores and scabies: Roast Si Gua peel until dry, grind to powder, mix with distilled liquor, and apply externally. (*Shesheng Zhongmiao Fang*)
For bullous eczema: Mix Si Gua juice with lead oxide powder, and apply frequently.
For chilblains on hands and feet: Burn old Si Gua to *Cunxing*, mix with lard from the twelfth lunar month, and apply. (*Hai Shang Fang*)
For anal hemorrhoids due to alcohol consumption: Burn Si Gua to *Cunxing*, grind to powder, and take two qian with wine. (*Yan Yuexuan Fang*)
For hemorrhoidal fistulas and rectal prolapse: Mix Si Gua ash, aged lime, and realgar (each five qian) into powder. Combine with pig bile, egg white, and sesame oil, apply to the area, and continue until retraction occurs. (Sun’s *Jixiao Fang*)
For intestinal wind bleeding: Burn post-frost dried Si Gua to *Cunxing*, grind to powder, and take two qian with wine on an empty stomach. Also known as Mangua, Tianluo, or Tianguagua. (Xu Shuwei’s *Benshi Fang*)
For severe, life-threatening lower GI bleeding: Burn one Si Gua (Tianluo) to *Cunxing*, use half the amount of *Sophora japonica* flower. Grind to powder, take two qian with rice water on an empty stomach. (*Puji Fang*)
For bloody dysentery due to alcohol, abdominal pain, or stool resembling fish roe in five colors: Burn one dried Si Gua (with skin) to powder, take two qian with wine on an empty stomach. Another method is to roast and eat. Commonly known as Yugua. (*Jingyan Liangfang*)
For unstoppable metrorrhagia: Mix old Si Gua ash and palm fiber ash in equal parts, take with salt wine or salt water. (*Qixiao Liangfang*)
For blocked meridians: Grind one dried Si Gua to powder, mix with white pigeon blood to form pills, dry, and grind again. Take two qian with wine on an empty stomach. First, take three doses of *Sìwù Tāng* (Four Substances Decoction). (*Haishang Mingfang*)
For blocked lactation: Burn Si Gua with seeds to *Cunxing*, grind to powder. Take one to two qian with wine, cover with blankets to induce sweating, and flow will resume. (*Jianbian Danfang*)
For dry blood qi pain, where women’s qi and blood do not circulate, rushing up to the heart and diaphragm, transforming into dry blood qi: Burn one Si Gua to *Cunxing*, take with warm wine on an empty stomach. (*Shouyu Shenfang*)
For lower jiao qi pain radiating around the navel to the heart: Burn old Si Gua with stem to *Cunxing*, grind to powder. Take three qian with hot wine. Severe cases resolve in two or three doses. For unilateral testicular swelling: Leave the first fruits formed on the vine, harvest after leaves fall, burn to *Cunxing*, grind to powder, mix with refined honey to make a paste. Take one spoonful with good wine nightly. Sleep on the left if swollen on the left, right if on the right. (Liu Songshi’s *Baoshou Tang Fang*)
For persistent lower back pain: Roast Tianluo melon seeds until scorched, grind with wine, drink hot, and apply the dregs roasted hot to the affected area. (Xiong’s *Buyi*)
For throat closure with swelling and pain: Crush Tianluo melon to extract juice and administer. (*Puji*)
For sudden stroke: Decoct *Saposhnikovia divaricata* and *Schizonepeta tenuifolia* (one liang each), *Bupleurum chinense* (half liang), and ginger (three slices) in one cup of water until half remains. Mix with half a cup of juice extracted from crushed Luffa seeds, and administer. If hands and feet are numb and itchy, wash with *Notopterygium incisum* decoction. (Tang Yao’s *Jingyan Fang*)
To resolve phlegm and stop coughing: Burn Tianluo (Si Gua) to *Cunxing*, grind to powder. Mix with jujube flesh, form pills the size of a bullet. Take one pill, dissolve in warm wine. (*Shesheng Zhongmiao Fang*)
For wind-worm toothache: Burn post-frost dried Si Gua to *Cunxing*, grind to powder, and rub on the teeth. (*Zhizhi Fang*)
For wind-induced toothache unresponsive to other medicines: This formula strongly dispels wind, except for carious teeth. Burn one Tianluo (fresh Si Gua) with salt applied, grinding to powder, and rub frequently until saliva drains and healing occurs. For mumps, mix with water and apply.
Ma Minshu said: This is a family recipe from Yan Yuexuan, highly effective; sleep comes immediately after one trial.
For food stagnation jaundice: Burn Si Gua with seeds to *Cunxing*, grind to powder. Take two qian per dose; if caused by complexion issues, take with noodle soup; if caused by alcohol, take with warm wine. Continue for several doses until cured. (*Weisheng Yijian Fang*)
For pediatric edema: Decoct Tianluo, *Juncus effusus* (rush pith), and scallion whites in equal parts to a thick decoction, drink and wash externally. (*Puji Fang*)
For hydrops with abdominal distension: Peel one old Si Gua (chop up), stir-fry with fourteen *Croton tiglium* seeds until seeds turn yellow, remove seeds, then stir-fry the melon with aged rice until cooked. Remove melon, grind rice to powder, make pills the size of wutong seeds. Take one hundred pills with warm water. Rice gathers stomach qi, Croton expels water, and Si Gua mimics human meridians, guiding the qi. This is a formula from Song Huizhi, a famous physician in Hangzhou during the Yuan Dynasty. (Xianyu Shu’s *Gouxuan*)
Leaves
[Indications] For tinea corporis, apply frequently. Treats carbuncles, furuncles, and testicular swelling (Li Shizhen).
[Attached Prescriptions] Six new prescriptions.
For parasitic tinea: At dawn, collect seven dew-covered Si Gua leaves, rub each leaf seven times on the affected area. Effect miraculous. Avoid chicken, fish, and triggering foods. (*Shesheng Zhongmiao Fang*)
For unilateral scrotal swelling: Burn Si Gua leaves to *Cunxing* (three qian), mix with eggshell ash (two qian), and take with warm wine. (Yu Jushi’s *Xuanqi Fang*)
For head sores with maggots, where maggots emerge from the scalp: Cut open with a knife, squeeze Si Gua leaf juice onto the wound. Once maggots are expelled, the root cause is eliminated. (Xiao Shan’s *Guai Zheng Fang*)
For scalds and burns: Roast Si Gua leaves, grind to powder, add one qian of lead oxide, mix with honey, and apply. Fresh leaves can be crushed and applied. Cures in one day. (*Haishang Mingfang*)
For fish-umbilical furuncle: Mix Si Gua leaves (also called Yuci leaves), scallion whites with roots, and chives in equal parts. Pound in a stone mortar to extract juice, take with hot wine. Apply the dregs to the axilla: left hand lesion to left axilla, right hand to right axilla; left foot to left groin, right foot to right groin; midline lesions to heart or navel. Bind with cloth. When red lines under the skin turn white, the disease disperses. If tidal fever occurs, use this method too, but hold the patient to prevent collapse. (Wei Shi’s *Defang Fang*)
Divine medicine for knife wounds: Mix ancient and new lime, Si Gua roots and leaves (from initial planting with two leaves), and chive roots in equal parts. Pound one thousand times to form cakes, dry in shade, grind to powder, and rub on wounds. Stops bleeding, relieves pain, generates flesh, effect miraculous. Passed down by Censor Su Haifeng. (Dong Bing’s *Jiyuan Fang*)
Vines and Roots
[Flavor and Properties] Same as leaves.
[Indications] Toothache and cerebral drip, kills parasites and detoxifies (Li Shizhen).
[Attached Prescriptions] Eight new prescriptions.
To preemptively resolve smallpox toxin: In May or June, collect tendrils from Si Gua vines, dry in shade. On the first day of the first lunar month at midnight, decoct two and a half liang (only one parent should know). Bathe the child’s body and face to remove fetal toxin, preventing smallpox entirely or reducing severity. (*Tiren Huibian*)
For chronic non-healing sores: Wash with decoction of old Si Gua roots; cooling sensation indicates cure. (*Yingyan Fang*)
For throat wind with swelling and pain: Soak Si Gua roots in water in a clay pot, drink the infusion. (*Haishang Mingfang*)
For cerebral drip with fluid leakage, frequent discharge of foul yellow nasal fluid, brain pain, named Kongnaosha (brain-controlling sand), indicating worms eating the brain: Burn three to five chi of Si Gua vine near the root to *Cunxing*. Take one qian with warm wine until cured. (*Yixue Zhengzhuan*)
For gingival recession and pain *Haishang Miaofang*: Dry Si Gua vines, roast to *Cunxing* when needed, grind and apply; most excellent. *Huishengtang Fang*: Boil a handful of Si Gua vines, a pinch of *Zanthoxylum bungeanum*, and a bundle of rush pith in water to a thick decoction, gargle and spit; pain stops instantly like magic. For fishbone stuck in throat: On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, dry Si Gua roots, burn to *Cunxing*. Take two qian, administered with decoction made from the original object causing the obstruction. (Bifeng’s *Zaxing*)
For persistent lower back pain: Burn Si Gua roots to *Cunxing*, grind to powder. Take two qian with warm wine; effect is divine and rapid. (Deng Bifeng’s *Zaxing*)
[Appendix] Tianluole (from *Shiyi*). Zang Qi said: Grows in flatlands in Jiangnan. Treats stream toxicity; crush and apply.
Li Shizhen said: Chen’s annotation is unclear. Since Jiangnan people also call Si Gua "Tianluo," it is suspected to be this plant, but without definitive evidence, it is tentatively appended here.