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Fruit of Chaenomeles (Mu Gua)

Taste: Sour. Nature: Warm. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Primarily treats damp-bi syndrome (painful obstruction due to dampness) and pathogenic factors, severe vomiting and diarrhea caused by cholera-like illness (Huo Luan), and persistent muscle cramps in the calf muscles. Its branches can also be boiled for use.

Tao Hongjing stated: They are particularly abundant in Lanting, Shanyin. Locals consider them excellent fruits, most effective for treating muscle cramps. When muscle cramps occur, merely calling out its name or writing the characters "Mu Gua" on paper cures the condition, which is inexplicable. Common people use walking sticks made from Mu Gua wood, claiming they benefit the tendons and calves. There is also a fruit called (pronounced Ming) Zha (pronounced ), which is large and yellow, used to enhance alcohol consumption and resolve phlegm. Additionally, Zha seeds are astringent and stop dysentery. The Book of Rites states: "Zha and pears are called ." Zheng Xuan did not recognize Zha, stating it was inferior pears. However, in ancient times, Zha was considered a fruit, whereas now it is no longer classified as such. Ministers Yuxi et al., according to the Shu edition notes: Its branches resemble those of Nai (a type of apple), flowers grow in clusters, and fruits resemble Trichosanthes fruit; when dried by fire, they are very fragrant. The Erya states: , refers to Mu Gua. The annotation says: The fruit resembles a small melon, is sour and edible, but excessive consumption is not beneficial to humans. Furthermore, the Erya annotation states: Zha resembles a pear but is sour and astringent. Chen Cangqi stated: Beyond its original functions, it directs cold qi downward, strengthens sinews and bones, aids digestion, stops thirst following dysentery, and should be taken as a decoction. For foot Qi attacking the heart (Foot Qi Shang Gong Xin), take one fruit, remove seeds, decoct, and ingest; tender fruits are better. It also stops nausea and vomiting, and resolves phlegm-saliva in the chest and diaphragm. It is also said that An Zha, alias Man Zha, when eaten, removes nausea. Its odor is pungent and fragrant, and placing it in clothing chests repels insects and fish. Eating it stops acid water in the heart and treats watery dysentery. Zha seeds, beyond their original functions, when eaten, remove nausea and sour throat sensations, and stop alcoholic phlegm with yellow fluid. They are smaller than but similar to . They are absent in the north but present in Zhongdu. Zheng's annotation on the Book of Rites states: Zha are inferior pears. Because they have no efficacy. Meng Shen stated: Mu Gua, strictly speaking, boiling its branches and leaves for drinking also treats cholera-like illness. Do not eat excessively, as it damages teeth and bones. For colic below the navel, use one or two slices of Mu Gua, seven mulberry leaves, three jujubes, crush them, add two sheng of water, boil down to half a sheng, and ingest at once for recovery. He also stated Zha seeds are neutral. They damage teeth and tendons and should not be eaten. They also treat cholera-like illness with muscle cramps; decocting and ingesting the juice has efficacy comparable to Mu Gua, with no other benefits. In regions outside the river, they are commonly eaten as fruits. Ri Huazi stated: Mu Gua stops vomiting and diarrhea, Ben Tun (rushing pig syndrome), Foot Qi, edema, cold and hot dysentery, abdominal pain, thirst, nausea, vomiting, and phlegm-saliva. The root treats Foot Qi. He also stated Zha is neutral and non-toxic. It resolves phlegm, detoxifies alcohol, and treats sour throat. Baked ingestion stops dysentery. Soaking in oil for combing hair treats red hair and graying.

Tu Jing stated: Mu Gua's place of origin was not recorded in older texts. Tao Hongjing said: Abundant in Lanting, Shanyin, now found everywhere, but those from Xuancheng are best. The tree resembles Nai, flowers bloom in late spring with deep red color. Fruits are large like melons, small like fists. The Erya calls it . Guo Pu said: The fruit resembles a small melon, is sour, edible, but should not be eaten in excess as it is not beneficial. People in Xuanzhou cultivate it carefully, filling valleys. When fruits first form, thin paper flowers are pasted on them; exposed to night dew and sun, they gradually turn red, with patterns resembling living flowers. This prefecture offers them as tribute. Another variety, Zha, has wood, leaves, flowers, and fruits extremely similar to Mu Gua. The large, yellow variety mentioned by Tao Hongjing, used to enhance alcohol and resolve phlegm, is this one. To distinguish them, look at the stem area; Mu Gua has an additional double stem resembling a nipple, while Zha lacks this feature. Large branches of Mu Gua can be made into walking sticks, claimed to benefit meridians and vessels. Decoctions of roots and leaves for washing feet and calves can cure cold extremities. Cutting the wood, drying it, and making buckets for foot washing is especially beneficial. Daoists press fresh Zha juice, mix with powdered Nard and Scrophularia, make wet incense, claiming it refreshes the spirit.

Lei Gong stated: When using Mu Gua, do not mistake it for He Yuan Zi, Man Zi, or Tu Fu Zi. Their color and external appearance truly resemble Mu Gua, but their odor, efficacy, and internal seeds differ. Real Mu Gua has thin skin, slightly reddish-yellow, fragrant, sweet and sour taste, not astringent. It harmonizes Ying and Wei, assists grain qi. The side facing inward with a pointed tip indicates real Mu Gua. He Yuan Zi is slightly yellow, with thick stems and cores, small round seeds, astringent and slightly salty taste, damaging to human qi. Man Zi grains are small, resembling Mu Gua, extremely astringent taste, unusable. Tu Fu Zi resembles Mu Gua, extremely astringent taste, seeds like large sesame, bitter and astringent, unusable. Ingesting it causes dry eyes, red eyes, and painful red meridians. When processing Mu Gua, avoid iron contact. Use a copper knife to peel off hard skin and remove seeds, slice thinly, and dry in the sun. Then mix with yellow cow milk, steam from Si hour to Wei hour, until Mu Gua resembles paste. Spread thinly in the sun and dry for use. Shi Liao stated: Treats vomiting wind qi. For post-vomiting muscle cramps, decocting and drinking the juice is excellent. For acute pain in legs and knees due to tendon tension, boil Mu Gua until soft, grind into porridge-like paste, and wrap around the painful area. Change when cool, three to five times overnight; wrapping with heat brings recovery. When boiling Mu Gua, add half wine and boil together. Mao Shi: You threw me a Mu Gua, I returned a Qiong Ju. Annotation: Mu Gua is a tree, an edible tree.

Yan Yi stated: Mu Gua obtains the upright energy of Wood, thus entering the sinews. Coating it with Lead Frost removes its sour taste, subjecting it to Metal's control, hence this property. Nowadays, people prefer large Mu Gua from Xi Jing for its sweet and pleasant taste. Until fully ripe, it is greenish-white. Used in medicine, it is highly efficacious. Those from Sheng and Xuancheng have a bland taste. This herb enters the Liver, thus benefiting sinew and blood diseases, weakness in waist, kidneys, and leg joints. It is indispensable.