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Winter Mallow Seed (Dongkuizi): Sweet in flavor, cold in nature. It primarily treats cold and heat disorders of the five zang-organs and six fu-organs, emaciation and weakness, and the five types of lin syndrome (urinary retention or dysuria). It promotes urination. Long-term consumption strengthens the bones, promotes muscle growth, and lightens the body.
Mingyi Bielu (Supplementary Records of Famous Physicians) states: It is produced in Shaoshi Mountain. Harvested in the twelfth lunar month.
Commentary: Shuowen Jiezi (Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters) states: "Kui" (𦵔) is the ancient character for "Zhong" (终), referring to the mallow vegetable. Guangya (Extended Erudition) states: "Kui" is the mallow. Examining the characters, "Kui" (𦵔) and "Zhong" (终) are similar in form; it should be the "Kui" mentioned in Erya (The Ready Guide). Erya states: Kui mallow is also called Fanlu (Heavy Dew). Guo Pu annotates: It means receiving dew; it has large stems and small leaves, with purple-yellow flowers. Bencao Tujing (Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica) states: People in the Wu region call it Fanlu, and its common name is Huyanzhi. Its seeds can be used by women for facial application and making lip rouge. Note: Mingyi Bielu has a separate entry for Luokui (Amaranthus tricolor), also called Fanlu, which is incorrect. Tao Hongjing believed it produces seeds from the Winter Solstice to spring, hence called Dongkui (Winter Mallow), which is highly irrational.

Melon Seed (referring to Ma Xian/Mo Shi here): Sweet in flavor, cold in nature. It primarily treats Qingmang (green blindness, visual impairment), brightens the eyes, eliminates pathogenic factors, promotes urination and defecation, and removes cold and heat. Long-term consumption boosts Qi and strength, prevents hunger, and lightens the body. Also known as Ma Xian (Purslane).
Mingyi Bielu states: Also known as Mo Shi. Produced in Huaiyang and fields; leaves resemble Indigofera tinctoria. Harvested in the eleventh lunar month.
Commentary: Shuowen Jiezi states: Xian is the amaranth vegetable. Erya states: Kui is Chi Xian (Red Amaranth). Guo Pu annotates: It is the current amaranth with red stems. Li Dangzhi states: Xian Shi (Amaranth Seed) should be the current Bai Xian (White Amaranth). Tang Ben Zhu (Tang Dynasty Materia Medica Annotation) states: Chi Xian, also named "Kui", is now called Mo Shi; this is a character error.

Melon Pedicel (Guadi): Bitter in flavor, cold in nature. It primarily treats severe edema causing swelling of the body, face, and four limbs. It drains dampness, kills Gu poison (parasitic or toxic pathogens), treats coughing with adverse rising of Qi, and addresses diseases in the chest and abdomen caused by consuming various fruits, expelling them through vomiting or purgation. Produced in marshy lowlands.
Mingyi Bielu states: Produced in Gaogao. Harvested on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month and dried in the shade.
Commentary: Shuowen Jiezi states: Gua (Melon) is a pictograph; Di (Pedicel) is the base of the melon. Guangya states: Shui Zhi (Water Chestnut/Zhi) is the melon. Tao Hongjing states: This is the pedicel of the sweet melon.

Winter Melon Seed (Dongguaren): Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature. It primarily makes the skin moist and lustrous, improves complexion, benefits Qi, and prevents hunger. Long-term consumption lightens the body and delays aging. Also known as Shui Zhi (recorded as Tu Zhi in Taiping Yulan). Produced in marshy lowlands.
Wu Pu Bencao states: Melon seed, also known as Ban. Harvested on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month; can be used to make facial cream (cited in Taiping Yulan).
Mingyi Bielu states: Also known as Bai Guazi (White Melon Seed). Produced in Gaogao. It is the seed of the winter melon, harvested in the eighth lunar month.
Commentary: Shuowen Jiezi states: Ban is the fruit inside the melon. Guangya states: It is the pulp of the winter melon, and its seeds are called Rang. Tao Hongjing states: The character "Bai" (White) should be "Gan" (Sweet); old editions contained the character "Bai". According to Mingyi Bielu, there is an entry for "Bai Guazi", so the original name likely did not contain the character "Bai".