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This tree bears fruit in the seventh month. The grains are like small beans but flat. They are green when raw and slightly purple when ripe. The kernel is pale green, shaped like a kidney. There is a thin layer of salt on the thin skin outside the kernel.
People in Yunnan and Sichuan harvest it as "Mu Yan" (Wood Salt). Insects on the leaves form Galla Chinensis (Wubeizi, 五倍子). It is harvested in the eighth month.
The taste is sour and salty, with a slightly cold nature, belonging to Yin within Yin. Its main indications include generating body fluids, descending fire, resolving phlegm, moistening the lungs, nourishing the kidneys, detoxifying, stopping dysentery, and consolidating to stop sweating. It treats rheumatic eye diseases and phlegm conditions. It has the function of dissolving in water. Therefore, for conditions such as salivation, night sweats, rheumatic tearing, runny nose, and excessive saliva, it is suitable for use. (Li Shizhen) For meanings not fully expounded, see the entries for Galla Chinensis (Wubeizi, 五倍子) and Baimiao Jian (Baiyao Jian, 百药煎).

Harvested early, it is called Tea (Cha); harvested late, it is called Ming (Ming, 茗). There are many varieties, and their applications differ greatly. Generally, those that are sweet in taste, not astringent, fragrant like orchids, and picked in summer are considered superior. Coarse, bitter, and astringent varieties cause harm if consumed.
The taste is bitter and sweet, with a slightly cold nature. It enters the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian and Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian. It clears the head and eyes, promotes urination, removes phlegm-heat, relieves thirst, and reduces sleepiness. It treats stroke with coma and confusion. Decoct and drink.
Filth and dregs specifically treat irritability. Qi causing discomfort in all joints. Although the taste is bitter, only drinking strong tea after meals can treat dysentery. Ginger assists Yang.
Both are good. (Yang Renzhai) According to: Yin. Not only does it injure Yang, but Yin also transforms into Qi to generate Suan Zao Ren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), Tong Cao (Tetrapanacis Medulla), and Lian Zi (Nelumbinis Semen). Fire refers to heat-toxin dysentery.
[Discussion] Haizang (Zhang Yuansu) stated that Tea has a cold nature and bitter taste, entering the Hand and Foot Jueyin meridians. The Foot Jueyin Liver meridian rises from Yin to Yang. The Hand Jueyin... reaches Yang... establishes solitude... yellow emaciation... Qi? ...Illness does not occur thus... secretly damages Yang... should not be drunk after alcohol.
[Differentiation and Treatment] In medicinal use, there is a type named "La Cha" (Winter Tea). It is produced only in a few places at Bei Yuan in Jianzhou. It is ground into cakes, sun-dried, and becomes better when exposed to fire.

This refers to the Pedicel of Cucumis melo (Tiangua Di, 甜瓜蒂). Melon types vary. One type is fruit melons, such as Watermelon (Xigua, 西瓜) and Muskmelon (Tiangua, 甜瓜). Another type is vegetable melons, such as Cucumber (Hugua, 胡瓜) and Yue Melon (Yuegua, 越瓜). Muskmelons are widely planted north and south, with the most numerous varieties. They are round or long, pointed or flat. Large ones may have a diameter of one chi, small ones only a pinch. Their ridges may or may not exist. Colors may be green or light green, or have yellow speckles, or white/yellow veins. For medicinal use, round and short pedicels are preferred. Those long like bottle gourds should not be used. (Li Shizhen)
The taste is bitter, nature is cold, with slight toxicity. The Qi is thin and the Taste is strong, floating and ascending, with Yin exceeding Yang. (Sour and bitter induce vomiting and purgation, which is Yin). Enters the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian, and Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian... vertigo and headache... at the root. Thus... just the pedicel.
It is a general agent for purging... hot medicine. Can... relieve lateral headache... insert into nose to discharge yellow fluid.
Use Tiangua San (Melon Pedicel Powder). If... branch syndrome. Head does not hurt... thereof. Taiyang Zhongshu (Heatstroke)... body chills and fever. Pulse tight and not large. This... turbid saliva. Diarrhea more than ten times a day... should induce vomiting. Food stagnation in the Upper Jiao... Xiaodou Dou (Adzuki Bean) two qian half, made into... then stops. High ones are vented.
(Wang Haogu) Swelling of body and face... use once. Stop when cured. Dampness patients... fall. Pulverize Tiangua Di (Melon Pedicel). Use each time... immediately vomits upon swallowing. Various wind syndromes affecting the diaphragm... add half qian of Scorpion tail (Xie Shao, 蝎梢). Dampness... points. Immediately vomits worms out.
[Discussion] When using the pedicel, one must select the Muskmelon. The pedicel tastes bitter while the melon tastes sweet. Abandoning sweetness for bitterness, because bitterness can achieve the function of sweetness. Muskmelon flowers in the fifth and sixth months, inheriting the Qi of Fire to reach Earth. Its color is yellow. From flowering comes the pedicel, and the fruit forms on the pedicel. Thus, the pedicel inherits Fire Qi, and the melon is sweet. The bitterness of the pedicel connects to sweetness, thus inheriting Fire Qi to reach Earth, which is what is meant by "bitterness achieving the function of sweetness." The function of sweetness is not only to reach Earth from Water, but first to reach Fire from Water. This variety is sown in the second month, spreading extensively, heavily pregnant with Water Qi. By summer, Fire Qi fully reaches, and the fruit matures. The full reaching of Fire is precisely the necessary reaching of Water. This is the function of penetrating downward and flaring upward, thereby achieving the function of Earth. Earth encompasses the four Qi, with Water and Fire as the origin of Middle Qi. Once Water and Fire fully reach, the function of Earth reaches its peak. The Stomach Qi reaching the Lung to distribute to the four Zang organs all stems from this. (Therefore, treating syndromes often... also disperses. Until damp-heat jaundice, this is a disease of the substance of Earth. If the function of Earth reaches, why would it not reach? Truly a general agent for inducing vomiting and purgation. But none surpasses this in reaching the function of Earth. Diseases of Earth lie here too. Therefore, people with weak stomachs should avoid it. Jiamo said: Ginseng Radix Rhizoma芦 (Shen Lu, 参芦) can substitute. Its nature is urgent and can damage Stomach Qi; those with weak stomachs must strictly avoid it. After illness or postpartum, one should especially take deep precautions. (Zhu Danxi) Extremely bitter in taste and rising in nature. It can damage the Stomach, injure Blood, consume Qi, and damage Spirit. Do not...