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(Recorded in the Lower Category of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)

**Names:** Ku Pao (Bitter Calabash, cited from *Guoyu*), Ku Hulu.

**Collected Explanations:** *Mingyi Bielu* states: Ku Hu grows in the Jin region.
Tao Hongjing says: Sometimes current calabashes become bitter, tasting like bile and inedible; this is not a distinct species growing separately. There is also a type of Hulu , which is also a variety of gourd.
Su Gong says: The discussions in *Shennong Bencao Jing* refer specifically to this type of Bitter Hulu . Tao's assertion that bitterness arises within ordinary gourds is a significant error. Occasionally bitter ones appear among gourds, but they are not used in medicine, have no primary therapeutic indications, and are unfit for consumption. Hulu and Hulu originate from different species; it is not that sweet varieties transform into bitter ones.
Bao Sheng says: Hulu is synonymous with Pao. There are two types: sweet and bitter. The sweet ones are large, and the bitter ones are small.
Kou Zongshi says: Hulu originally planted as sweet may suddenly turn bitter. Folklore claims that fertilizing with chicken manure or trampling by cattle and horses causes this transformation. Tao's observation has some merit and cannot be entirely dismissed.
Li Shizhen says: The *Book of Songs* states: "The Pao has bitter leaves." *Guoyu* states: "The bitter Pao is useless for vessels, serving only to help people cross water." Both refer to the bitter Hulu, i.e., Ku Hu. Since Hulu and Hu share the same pronunciation, Tao's interpretation of Hulu as having the sound of 'Hu' (protect) is unstable. Ying Shao in *Fengsu Tong* states: Burning rice straw can kill gourds. It is said that those who raise gourds do not burn rice straw, and those who grow melons do not burn lacquer trees. This is due to mutual repulsion of their natures. Su Gong notes: If excessive consumption of Ku Hu causes persistent vomiting and diarrhea, one can antidote it with juice from millet straw ash. This likely derives from such practices. When using Ku Hu, one must select pieces with fine texture, crystal clear, clean, and free of spots; otherwise, they are toxic. The pulp and seeds...

**Flavor and Properties:** Bitter, Cold, Toxic.

**Therapeutic Actions:** Treats severe edema, swelling of the face, eyes, and limbs; promotes urination to drain water; induces vomiting (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Treats Shi Lin (Stone Strangury), vomiting and hiccups, Nang Jie (scrotal constriction), Zhu Gu Tan Yin (infectious phlegm-fluid retention). Boiled juice applied to soak the genitals treats urinary obstruction (Su Gong). Decoction instilled into the nose expels yellow fluid, treating nasal congestion due to cold injury and jaundice (Zang Qi). Expels roundworms (Da Ming). Treats carbuncles, ulcers, scabies, tinea, and dental caries with worms. Can also counteract mercury toxicity (Li Shizhen).

**Attached Prescriptions:** Eight old prescriptions, seventeen new prescriptions.
Acute Jaundice: One Ku Hu, make a hole, boil in water, stir and extract juice, drip into the nose. Expels yellow fluid. (Chen Cangqi).
Jaundice with Swelling and Fullness: A piece of Ku Hulu pulp the size of a large date, soaked in two he of child's urine for one shi (two hours), take an amount the size of two sour jujubes, insert into both nostrils, inhale deeply until yellow fluid flows out, which is good. Another method: Roast Hulu pulp until yellow, grind into powder, take half qian each time, once daily, cured in ten days. However, if vomiting occurs, exercise caution. (*Shanghan Leiyao*).
Severe Edema and Fullness, Swollen Head and Face: Use clean, high-quality white pulp of Ku Hu, roll into bean-sized pellets, wrap in flour, boil for one boiling point, take seven pellets on an empty stomach. By noon, one dou of water should be discharged. Water will continue to discharge naturally for two days; the patient becomes emaciated and recovers. Avoid salty foods for two years. (*Waitai Miyao*) *Shenghui Fang*: Use one liang of Ku Hulu pulp, lightly stir-fried and powdered, take one qian daily with gruel drink.
Generalized Edema: Two liang of Ku Hu membrane (stir-fried), five fen of Ku Ting Li, pounded together and made into pills the size of adzuki beans. Take five pills each time, three times daily, stop when water discharge ceases. Alternatively, use five fen of Ku Hu membrane and seven large jujubes. Pound into pills. Take three pills at first; after walking about ten li, take another three pills; after water discharge, take one more pill, then stop. (Both from *Qianjin Fang*).
Shi Shui Abdominal Swelling: Limbs are emaciated. Use one liang of Ku Hu membrane (stir-fried), half liang of Xing Ren (stir-fried, skin and tips removed), grind into powder, bind with paste to make pills the size of adzuki beans. Take ten pills with warm water each time, three times daily, stop when water discharge ceases. (*Shengji Zonglu*).
Shui Gu Severe Swelling: One Ku Hu pulp, two sheng of water, boil down to one sheng, simmer until moldable into pills the size of adzuki beans. Take ten pills with rice drink each time. Once urination becomes smooth, eat adzuki bean soup. Do not drink water.
Urinary Obstruction with Distension and Urgency: Thirty Ku Hu seeds (stir-fried), three Lou Gu (dried), grind into powder. Take one qian with cold water each time. (Both from *Shengji Zonglu*).
Pediatric Shan Pi: Take an unbroken Ku Hu, boil until hot, unwrap and apply as a compress. (Chen Cangqi *Bencao*).
Wind-Phlegm Headache: Extract juice from Ku Hu membrane, instill into the nose using a reed tube. The qi rushes upward to the forehead; after a moment, foul saliva flows down, and the illness is immediately cured and eradicated. Do not doubt due to dizziness. Soaked juice from dried material is also effective; blowing powder of its seeds is also effective. Chronic head wind diseases are all cured. (*Puji Fang*).
Nasal Obstruction and Congestion: Powder of Ku Hulu seeds, soaked in pure wine, for one day in summer, seven days in winter. Instill a little daily. (*Shenghui Fang*).
Dim Vision: On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, extract one he of juice from the white pulp of Ku Hu, mix with two sheng of vinegar and seven ancient coins, simmer over low heat until reduced by half. Each day, take the foam and instill into the eyes; miraculous effect. (*Qianjin Fang*).
Flesh and Blood Pterygium: In autumn, take small-handled Hulu or small medicinal Hulu, dry in shade, saw off at the narrow part, dig a small hole inside the size of an eye pupil. When this disease occurs, pull eyelids open with hands, fit the Hulu hole over the eye. Although initially painful, flesh growth and blood pterygium gradually fall off without damaging the eyeball. (Liu Songshi *Jingyan Fang*).
Dental [Ulcer] and Bad Breath: Powder of Ku Hu seeds, honey-pilulated to the size of half a date. Every morning after rinsing mouth, hold one pill, still apply to the [gum], saliva flows out, spit it out; excellent. (*Shenghui Fang*).
Wind-Worm Toothache: Half sheng of Hulu seeds. Five sheng of water, decoct to three sheng, gargle. Stems and leaves are also usable. Not exceeding three times. (*Shenghui Fang*)
Malignant Ulcers, Tinea, Leprosy, Untreated for Ten Years: One Ku Hu, decoct juice and apply, three times daily. (*Zhouhou Beiji Fang*)
Nine Holes: Four Ku Hu, large as a cup, each pierce a hole the size of a finger, boil in water for over ten boils. Take a bamboo tube one chi long, insert one end into the Hulu hole, place the other end over the wound hole; replace when cool, use until finished. (*Qianjin Fang*).
Hemorrhoid Swelling and Pain: Decoct Ku Hulu and Ku Cai vegetable, fumigate first then wash, then apply powders of Bear Gallbladder, Lead Monoxide, Chalcanthite, and Borneol; good effect. (*Zhaixuan Fang*).
Lower Body Hanging Carbuncle: Choose a day when the Divine Spirit is absent, take one bowl of powder of Baiyao Jian mixed with well-water on an empty stomach. After mild purgation, slice Qiu Hulu (also called Ku Bulao, bitter ones growing on trellises) and place slices on the wound, moxibustion for fourteen cones. Su Duanshi suffered from this for years, cured after one moxibustion session. (*Yonglei Qianfang*).
Sudden Poisoning by Gu Toxin, or Hematemesis or Hematochezia, resembling rotten liver: One Ku Hu. Two sheng of water, decoct to one sheng, take orally; immediate vomiting leads to cure. Another method: One sheng of vinegar, decoct until dissolved, take to induce vomiting; miraculous. (*Zhouhou Beiji Fang*)
Retained Dead Fetus: Ku Hulu charred to retain nature, ground into powder. Take one qian each time, taken with hot wine on an empty stomach. (*Haishang Mingfang*)
Ear Discharge of Pus: One fen of dried Hulu seeds, half qian of Huang Lian, ground into powder. Cleanse thoroughly with cotton first, blow in half zi, twice daily. (*Shenghui Fang*)
Nasal Polyps: Equal parts Ku Hulu seeds and Ku Dingxiang, add a little She Xiang, grind into powder. Instill using paper twist. (*Shenghui Fang*)

**Flowers**
**Therapeutic Actions:** Treats all [skin] sores; harvest after frost and sun-dry, grind into powder and apply (Li Shizhen).

**Vines**
**Therapeutic Actions:** Varicella/Smallpox sores; decoct for bathing, immediately cured (Li Shizhen. From Qiu Yuan *Baishi*).

**Attached Prescription:** One new prescription.
Pediatric White Baldness: Wrap Hulu vine with salt, wash with strong decoction of lotus leaves; cured in three to five times. (*Zonglu*)