（本经下品）
【气味】苦寒，有毒。
【主治】主大水身面四肢浮肿，下水，杀蛊毒，咳逆上气，及食诸果病在胸腹中，皆吐
下之。
【核】曰∶所在有之，生嵩高平泽间。即甜瓜之蒂也。三月下种，延蔓而生，叶大数寸，
五六月开花黄色，六七月瓜熟，有圆，有长，有尖，有扁。大或径尺，小或一捻。或有棱，
或无棱，其色或青，或绿，或黄而斑，或糁而斑，或白路，或黄路。其瓤或白，或红，其子
或黄，或赤，或白，或黑。农书云∶瓜品甚多，不可枚举。以状得名者，有龙肝、虎掌、兔
头、狸首、羊髓、蜜筒之称；以色得名者，有乌瓜、白团、黄 、白 、小青、大斑之别。
然其味，不出乎浓淡甘香而已。广志云∶惟以辽东、 煌、庐江之瓜为胜。然瓜州之大瓜，
扬州之御瓜，西蜀之温瓜，永嘉之寒瓜，未可以优劣论也。甘肃甜瓜，皮、瓤皆甘，甘胜糖
蜜，即瓜皮曝干，犹甘美可口。浙中一种阴瓜，种植阴处，熟则色黄如金，肤皮稍浓，藏至
来春，食之如新。此皆种艺之巧，不必拘以土地也。修事，勿用白瓜蒂，取青绿色瓜，气足
时，其蒂自落在蔓上者。采得，系屋东角有风处，吹干用。
【 】曰∶瓜象形，象实在须蔓间也，当曰蒂，蒂瓜之缀蔓处也。性偏延蔓，末繁于本，
故少延辄腐。尔雅云∶其绍瓞。疏云∶继本曰绍，形小曰瓞，故近本之瓜尝小，近末之瓜转
大也。凡实之吮抽水液，唯瓜称最，而吮抽之枢，抵当唯蒂而已。是以蒂具彻下炎上之用，
故蒂味苦而瓜本甘，以见中枢之别于上下内外，诚涌泄之宣剂通剂也。故主大水在胸腹中，
外溢而为身面四肢浮肿，或蛊毒，或咳逆上气，或食诸果病在胸腹中者，皆可涌而吐之，泄
而下之。涌者近中以上，泄者近中以下，谓其从枢，故涌泄咸宜。经云∶酸苦涌泄为阴，故
其气寒，其味苦。
（世知瓜蒂作吐剂，不知瓜蒂作下剂。以吐剂中有瓜蒂散，下剂中方书少有用瓜蒂者。
遂致减却泄下功力，亦并将泄字训作上泄之涌，转展传讹，而诸书引用泄字者，亦无暇分别
矣。）
【《神农本草经》列为下品】
【气味】味苦，性寒，有毒。
【主治】主治全身、面部及四肢因水湿停聚引起的浮肿，能引导水湿下行，杀灭蛊毒，治疗气逆咳嗽，以及因食用各种水果导致病邪滞留于胸腹中的情况，均通过催吐或泻下的方法排出病邪。
【考证】曰：各地均有出产，生长在嵩山高地和平原沼泽之间。这就是甜瓜的蒂（瓜柄）。三月播种，藤蔓蔓延生长，叶片长达数寸，五六月开出黄色花朵，六七月瓜果成熟，形状有圆的、长的、尖的、扁的。大的直径可达一尺，小的仅能用手捏住。有的有棱，有的无棱，颜色有的青，有的绿，有的黄且带斑纹，有的撒点状斑纹，有的白色脉络，有的黄色脉络。瓜瓤有的白，有的红，瓜籽有的黄，有的赤，有的白，有的黑。农书说：瓜的品种很多，无法一一列举。以形状命名的，有龙肝、虎掌、兔头、狸首、羊髓、蜜筒之称；以颜色命名的，有乌瓜、白团、黄[此处原文缺字，推测为某种黄瓜]、白[此处原文缺字，推测为某种白瓜]、小青、大斑之别。然而其味道，不外乎浓淡和甘香而已。《广志》说：只有辽东、敦煌、庐江的瓜最为出色。然而瓜州的大瓜、扬州的御用瓜、西蜀的温瓜、永嘉的寒瓜，不能简单地论定优劣。甘肃的甜瓜，皮和瓤都甘甜，甜味胜过糖蜜，即使将瓜皮晒干，依然甘美可口。浙江有一种阴瓜，种植在阴凉处，成熟时颜色金黄如金，表皮稍厚，储藏到第二年春天，吃起来像新的一样。这些都是种植技艺巧妙，不必拘泥于土地条件。炮制加工时，不要用白瓜的蒂，选取青绿色的瓜，在气息充足时，其自然脱落挂在藤蔓上的蒂。采得后，悬挂在房屋东角通风处，吹干后使用。
【发明】曰：瓜的形状像实物，实质在于须蔓之间，应当称为“蒂”，蒂是连接瓜与藤蔓的地方。瓜的性情偏向于藤蔓延伸，末端繁茂而根部相对薄弱，所以稍微延长就会腐烂。《尔雅》说：“其绍瓞。”郭璞注疏说：“接续本根的叫绍，形体小的叫瓞，所以靠近根部的瓜常常较小，靠近末端的瓜反而较大。”凡是果实吸取水分和汁液，唯有瓜最为显著，而吸取汁液的枢纽，正是那个蒂罢了。因此，瓜蒂具备通彻向下和炎上涌吐的作用，所以瓜蒂味苦而瓜肉本味甘，以此显示中枢部位区别于上下内外，确实是涌吐和泄下的宣通之剂。所以主治大水湿邪在胸腹中，外溢导致身体、面部、四肢浮肿，或是蛊毒，或是气逆咳嗽，或是食用各种水果导致病邪在胸腹中的情况，都可以采用涌吐的方法使其吐出，采用泄下的方法使其排出。涌吐法作用部位偏中上，泄下法作用部位偏中下，说是因为它作用于枢纽，所以涌吐和泄下都适宜。《内经》说：“酸味和苦味具有涌吐和泄下的作用，属于阴”，所以它的气性是寒的，味道是苦的。
（世人只知道瓜蒂作为催吐药，不知道瓜蒂也可作为泻下药。因为催吐方剂中有瓜蒂散，而在泻下方剂中书籍很少有用瓜蒂的。于是导致减少了其泄下的功效，也将“泄”字解释为向上涌吐的“涌”，辗转相传造成错误，其他书籍引用“泄”字时，也没有闲暇去分别了。）
[Classified as Lower Grade in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica)]
[Flavor and Nature] Bitter, Cold, Toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats edema of the body, face, and limbs caused by excessive water retention; promotes the downward movement of water; kills gu poison (parasitic disease); treats cough with rebellious qi; and conditions where fruit consumption leads to pathogenic factors lodged in the chest and abdomen. All such conditions are treated by inducing vomiting or purging.
[Evidence] It states: Available everywhere, growing between high grounds of Song Mountain and flat marshes. This is the pedicel (calyx/stem) of the sweet melon (*Cucumis melo*). Sown in March, it grows via creeping vines. Leaves are several inches long. Yellow flowers bloom in May and June; fruits mature in June and July. Shapes vary: round, long, pointed, or flat. Sizes range from one chi (approx. 33 cm) in diameter to small enough to be held in a pinch. Some have ridges, some do not. Colors include green, dark green, yellow with spots, speckled, white veins, or yellow veins. Flesh can be white or red; seeds can be yellow, red, white, or black. Agricultural texts state that melon varieties are numerous and cannot be listed individually. Named by shape: Dragon Liver, Tiger Palm, Rabbit Head, Civet Cat Head, Sheep Marrow, Honey Tube. Named by color: Black Melon, White Round, Yellow [character missing], White [character missing], Small Green, Large Spotted. However, their flavors only differ in intensity and sweetness/aroma. *Guang Zhi* states that melons from Liaodong, Dunhuang, and Lujiang are superior. Yet, large melons from Guazhou, imperial melons from Yangzhou, warm melons from Western Shu, and cold melons from Yongjia cannot be simply ranked as better or worse. Sweet melons from Gansu have both skin and flesh that are sweet, sweeter than sugar and honey; even dried melon skin remains delicious. In Zhejiang, there is a "Yin Melon" grown in shaded areas; when ripe, it is golden yellow with slightly thick skin, stored until the following spring, tasting fresh. These results from skilled cultivation techniques and need not be restricted by geography. For processing, do not use the pedicel of white melons. Select green melons; take the pedicel that naturally falls onto the vine when the Qi is sufficient. After harvesting, hang it in a ventilated corner on the east side of the house to dry by wind.
[Innovation/Analysis] It states: The shape of the melon resembles its substance, which lies within the tendrils and vines; thus it should be called "Di" (pedicel), the part connecting the melon to the vine. Its nature tends toward vine extension; the end is more vigorous than the root, so if extended too much, it rots. *Erya* says: "Its continuation is Dié." Commentary explains: "Continuing from the root is called Shao; small shape is called Dié. Therefore, melons near the root are often small, while those near the end become larger." Among all fruits, the melon absorbs water and fluids most significantly, and the pivot for this absorption is solely the pedicel. Thus, the pedicel possesses the function of clearing downward and surging upward. Hence, the pedicel tastes bitter while the melon flesh is sweet, demonstrating the distinction of the central pivot from the upper/lower and inner/outer. It is truly a dispersing and unblocking agent for vomiting and purging. Therefore, it treats excess water dampness in the chest and abdomen, overflowing to cause edema of the body, face, and limbs; or gu poison; or cough with rebellious qi; or pathogenic factors from fruit consumption in the chest and abdomen. All can be expelled by vomiting (surging up) or purging (draining down). Vomiting acts closer to the middle-upper region; purging acts closer to the middle-lower region. Since it acts on the pivot, both vomiting and purging are suitable. The Classic states: "Sour and bitter flavors induce vomiting and purging, belonging to Yin." Therefore, its nature is Cold, and its flavor is Bitter.
(Modern people know only that Dianthus pedicel [Gua Di] is used as an emetic, unaware that it can also be used as a cathartic. While there is Gua Di San in emetic formulas, few cathartic formulas in medical books use Gua Di. This has led to a reduction in its purging efficacy, and the character 'Xie' (drain/purge) has been misinterpreted as 'Shang Xie' (upward surging/vomiting). Errors have propagated through generations, and other books citing 'Xie' have had no time to distinguish the meanings.)