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After being frosted, the skin is covered with a white powder-like frost, at which time it can be used. Do not consume in the ninth month, as it causes reverse flow of stomach qi (reflux/nausea).

The taste is sweet, the nature is slightly cold, and its action is swift and penetrating. It is beneficial for those with heat conditions; for those with cold conditions and emaciation, it is detrimental. Boiled consumption strengthens the five zang organs due to its ability to direct qi downward. It primarily treats abdominal distension with water accumulation, promotes urination, relieves thirst, and resolves toxic heat carbuncles and sores. For those suffering from back carbuncles and all types of abscesses, slice a large piece and place it on the sore; replace when it becomes warm. It effectively disperses toxic heat qi and is very efficacious. (Zong) *Shuizhong Shizhi Fang* records: White winter melon can be consumed without limit. Also, take one carp weighing one jin, remove scales and viscera, fill the cavity with winter melon pulp, cook thoroughly, and eat.

The taste and nature are sweet and neutral. It treats latent heat in the heart channel, painful and difficult urination, and nasal/facial rosacea resembling hemp seeds or beans, characterized by pain and yellow discharge. It treats intestinal abscesses and primarily addresses intra-abdominal masses.

[Discussion] Both bitter gourd (*Kuhu*) and winter melon (*Donggua*) promote water metabolism, but *Kuhu* disseminates yang qi, while *Donggua* reaches yin qi. Why? Winter melon sprouts in the third lunar month and flowers until the sixth or seventh month, accumulating yin qi, thus it directs towards yin. It is suitable for those with heat in the zang-fu organs. However, those with deficiency-cold, cold kidneys, chronic diarrhea with slipping, or yin deficiency should not consume it. (Zhongchun)

[Processing] For medicinal use, harvest after frost and store for later use. When storing melons, avoid contact with wine, lacquer, musk, and glutinous rice, as contact causes rotting.

Wood ear mushroom grows on decaying wood, generated by residual damp-heat. Those growing on ancient locust trees or mulberry trees are best; those on *Zhe* trees are next best. Those growing on other trees are unsuitable for use. (Quan) Its properties necessarily follow the nature of the host tree, which must be carefully examined. (Binhu)

*Sang'er* (Mulberry Wood Ear)
Taste and nature are sweet and neutral. It primarily treats uterine bleeding and leukorrhea in women, stops epistaxis, and treats wind-heat bloody diarrhea. Its nature cools blood, hence it stops bleeding. (Wenqing)

*Muer* (Wood Ear Mushroom)
Obtains... [Text fragmentary]

*Huai'er* (Locust Tree Wood Ear)
Taste and nature is bitter, acrid, and neutral. It primarily treats hemorrhoids with prolapse and lower bleeding, and intestinal hemorrhoids with bleeding. Powder the *Huai'er*, take one *cunbi* with drink, three times daily. For visceral toxin...

Burn two liang of *Huai'er* and one liang of *Ganxi* (Dry Knee/Ginger), powder them. Take one qian each time, administered with warm wine.

*Zhe'er* (Zhe Tree Wood Ear)
Primarily treats lung abscess. Lung abscess presents with coughing up pus, bloody and foul-smelling sputum. Regardless of whether the pus has formed, take one liang, powder it, mix with *Baichi Shuang* (comb dirt) two qian, make pills with paste the size of *Wuzi* (wu berry seeds), swallow thirty pills with rice broth. Highly effective.

Zhongjing stated: Red-colored wood ear mushrooms and those growing upwards (facing sky) should not be eaten. Cangqi stated: Those where snakes or insects have crawled underneath change color upon collection; view at night... [Text ends abruptly with "Melon"].