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[Qin Di Li]
The leaves are pungent in flavor, warm in nature, and non-toxic. They primarily treat cold distension in the heart and abdomen, promote the movement of Qi downward, and aid digestion. The Qin Di Li consumed by people grows in damp, low-lying areas and is found everywhere. (Attached from *Xin Xiu Ben Cao*)

Minister Yuxi et al. respectfully cite Meng Shen: Qin Di Li is the most fragrant and delicious among raw vegetables, but it strongly depletes Qi. Furthermore, when powdered and taken with wine, it treats sudden heart pain and oppressive, fullness of Qi. Additionally, its seeds, when powdered and mixed with large amounts of vinegar, applied externally to swollen Qi, should be changed three times daily. Chen Cangqi states: Five pungent vegetables are pungent in flavor and warm in nature. Consuming them in the morning removes foul Qi, aids digestion, and promotes the movement of Qi downward. *Jingchu Suishiji* also holds this view; they should not be consumed after febrile diseases as they damage the eyes.

*Shiyi Xinjing*: Qin Di Li, when taken with soy sauce and vinegar, regulates cold distension in the heart and abdomen, promotes the movement of Qi downward, and aids digestion; it is best consumed on an empty stomach.

Lei Gong states: When using it, do not use other varieties. The herb resembles a cowhide vine; when pinched, milky juice exudes, which is sweet and fragrant to the extreme. After harvesting, finely chop it with a bitter bamboo knife, grind it into a paste in a mortar, wrap it in raw thin silk, wring out the juice, and drink it warm. *Qianjin Fang*: Treats injury to the middle jiao with sudden bleeding and redness. Use butter churned juice... (Text appears fragmented here).

Another prescription: Treats irregular menstruation or dysmenorrhea. Juice the vegetable, mix with wine, decoct, and take one cup.

(Added during the Jiyou year from *Jia You Ben Cao · Yan Yi*)

[Ku Hu - Bitter Gourd/Pumpkin]
It is bitter in flavor, cold in nature, and toxic. It primarily treats severe edema (*Da Shui*), swelling of the face, eyes, and limbs, promotes urination, and induces vomiting. It grows in the rivers and marshes of the Jin region.

Tao Hongjing states: *Hu* (gourd/pumpkin) belongs to the same category as winter melon in terms of Qi, but differs in position; this is likely due to its bitterness. If *Hu* suddenly becomes bitter like gallbladder bile, it is inedible and does not constitute a separate species. There is also *Hu* (pronounced Lou), which is also a type of gourd; the small ones are called *Piao*, and consuming them is superior to regular *Hu*. All these promote water pathways, hence they are eaten in summer; naturally, their efficacy is inferior to winter melon. *Xin Xiu Ben Cao* annotation states: *Hu* is completely different from winter melon and *Hu*; what is discussed here regarding nature is all *Ku Hu* (bitter gourd). Tao's statement that bitter *Hu* exists within the same species is a major error. Bitter *Hu* is not used medicinally. Winter melon follows the previous dietary description. *Hu* and *Hu* must be distinguished. These three plants have similar stems and leaves but different fruit shapes. *Hu* is generally sweet, occasionally bitter, resembling *Yue Gua* (a type of melon), over a chi long, with similar ends. Its *Hu* (specific variety) varies in shape and size. One type ripens in summer and withers in late autumn; another bears fruit in late summer, ripens in mid-autumn, and is harvested for vessels after frost. *Hu* and sweet *Hu* share similar properties, being sweet, cold, promoting water pathways, quenching thirst, clearing heat, and non-toxic, as stated in the classics. However, bitter *Hu* is inedible, has no therapeutic indication, and is not used in prescriptions. Sweet *Hu* and its seeds are superior to winter melon in consumption; Tao's omission indicates unfamiliarity. These originate from different seeds; sweetness does not turn into bitterness. The pulp of bitter *Hu* is bitter, cold, and toxic. It treats edema, stone strangury (*Shi Lin*), coughing up phlegm/blood, scrotal constriction, *Zhu Gu* (wandering pestilence), and phlegm-fluid retention. Overdose causes persistent vomiting and diarrhea; this should be resolved with ash juice from millet stalks. Boiled juice applied to the genitals treats urinary obstruction. According to Chen Cangqi's *Bencao*: Decocted juice of bitter *Hu* dripped into the nose expels yellow fluid, treating cold damage, nasal congestion, and jaundice. Take one fruit, open it, boil in water, stir to extract juice, heat, and apply to relieve infant "flash phlegm" (likely a specific pediatric condition). Minister Yuxi et al. respectfully cite the Shu edition annotation: Tao says small *Hu* is named *Piao*. According to *Qieyun*, *Piao* notes: *Hu* also. Also, the saying "Am I a gourd?" refers to the gourd of melons and gourds. Currently, bitter melons/gourds are rare. Respectfully, *Hu* is indeed *Pao*. But the character *Pao* should be written as [Character], likely homophonic with different characters. And [Character] resembles *Hu* and can serve as a drinking vessel. There are two types: sweet and bitter. Sweet ones are large; bitter ones are small. Thus, Tao's statement that small ones are named *Piao* is correct. Nowadays, people use bitter [ones] to induce vomiting. This aligns with the above. *Yao Xing Lun* states: Bitter *Hu* pulp is used. It treats water edema, swelling of the face, eyes, and joints, and moves severe water Qi pathology. Meng Shen states: *Hu* is cold. It treats diabetes (*Xiao Ke*) and malignant sores. Furthermore, those with tinea pedis (*Xiang Gang Jiao*) and deficiency distension, or those with cold Qi, should not eat it, especially severely. It suppresses heat; those taking cinnabar/realgar stones may eat it, but others should not consume it casually. Ri Huazi states: *Hu* is non-toxic, or slightly toxic. It relieves irritability, quenches thirst, treats heart heat, benefits the small intestine, moistens lungs and heart, treats stone strangury, and expels roundworms.

*Shenghui Fang*: Treats toothache from dental caries. Use half a sheng of gourd, five sheng of water, decoct to three sheng, remove dregs, swish and spit. Stems and leaves can also be used; two doses suffice for cure. Another prescription: Treats scrofula (*Shu Lou*). Dry *Hu* flowers, powder them, and apply externally. *Waitai Miyao*: Treats sudden swelling and fullness. Someone once fell on their foot, swelling gradually rose to the knee, making walking impossible, suffering from severe water retention, massive swelling of head, face, and body. Take white pulp of bitter *Hu*, form into bean-sized pellets, wrap in dough, boil briefly, take seven pellets on an empty stomach. By noon, one dou of water should be expelled. Water continues to pass for two days; significant weight loss indicates cure. Be cautious with diet for three years. The bitter *Hu* must be high quality, without spots, fine texture, thoroughly cleaned; otherwise, it is toxic and unusable. *Qianjin Fang*: Treats dim vision. Take white pulp of bitter *Hu* collected on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, wring out one he of juice, mix with one sheng of vinegar and seven ancient coins, soak, simmer gently until reduced by half. Apply foam to the eyes; highly effective. *Zhouhou Fang*: Cases resemble rotting liver. Take one bitter *Hu*, two sheng of water, decoct to one sheng, ingest; immediate vomiting leads to cure. Another prescription: Highly effective. Sun Simiao: Sweet *Hu*, if consumed by those with leg swelling Qi and deficiency swelling, will never cure. *Shanghan Leiyao*: Treats... soak for three or two meal-times. Take two sour dates' worth, divide and insert into both nostrils. White pulp of seeds roasted until yellow, powdered, take half a qian bi per dose, once daily, cured in ten days. If *Hu* causes vomiting, examine carefully first. *Danfang Jingyuan*: Bitter *Hu* boils mercury.