（《日用》）
【释名】寒瓜（见下）。
【集解】瑞曰∶契丹破回纥，始得此种，以牛粪覆而种之。结实如斗大，而圆如匏，色
如青玉，子如金色，或黑麻色。北地多有之。
时珍曰∶按∶胡峤《陷虏记》言∶峤征回纥，得此种归，名曰西瓜。则西瓜自五代时始
入中国，今则南北皆有，而南方者味稍不及，亦甜瓜之类也。二月下种，蔓生，花、叶皆如
甜瓜。七、八月实熟，有围及径尺者，长至二尺者。其棱或有或无，其色或青或绿，其瓤或
白或红，红者味尤胜。其子或黄或红，或黑或白，白者味更劣。其味有甘、有淡、有酸，酸
者为下。陶弘景注瓜蒂言，永嘉有寒瓜甚大，可藏至春者，即此也。盖五代之先，瓜种已入
浙东，但无西瓜之名，未遍中国尔。其瓜子曝裂取仁，生食、炒熟俱佳。皮不堪啖，亦可蜜
煎、酱藏。
颂曰∶一种杨溪瓜，秋生冬熟，形略长扁而大，瓤色如胭脂，味胜。可留至次年，云是
异人所遗之种也。
瓜瓤
【气味】甘、淡，寒，无毒。
瑞曰∶有小毒。多食作吐利，胃弱者不可食。同油饼食，损脾。
时珍曰∶按《延寿书》云∶北人禀浓，食之犹惯；南人禀薄，多食易至霍乱，冷病
终身也。又按∶《相感志》云∶食西瓜后食其子，即不噫瓜气。以瓜划破，曝日中，少顷食，
即冷如水也。得酒气、近糯米，即易烂。猫踏之，即易沙。
【主治】消烦止渴，解暑热（吴瑞）。疗喉痹（汪颖）。宽中下气，利小水，治血痢，解
酒毒（宁原）。含汁，治口疮（震享）。
【发明】颖曰∶西瓜性寒解热，有天生白虎汤之号。然亦不宜多食。
时珍曰∶西瓜、甜瓜皆属生冷。世俗以为醍醐灌顶，甘露洒心，取其一时之快，不知其
伤脾助湿之害也。《真西山卫生歌》云∶“瓜桃生冷宜少飧，免致秋来成疟痢。”是矣。又李
鹏飞《延寿书》云∶防州太守陈逢原，避暑食瓜过多，至秋忽腰腿痛，不能举动。遇商助教
疗之，乃愈。此皆食瓜之患也，故集书于此，以为鉴戒云。又洪忠宣《松漠纪闻》言∶有人
苦目病。或令以西瓜切片曝干，日日服之，遂愈。由其性冷降火故也。
皮
【气味】甘，凉，无毒。
【主治】口、舌、唇内生疮，烧研噙之（震亨）。
【附方】新二。
闲挫腰痛∶西瓜青皮，阴干为末，盐酒调服三钱。（《摄生众妙方》）
食瓜过伤∶瓜皮煎汤解之。诸瓜皆同。（《事林广记》）
瓜子仁
【气味】甘，寒，无毒。
【主治】与甜瓜仁同（时珍）。
（引自《日用本草》）
【释名】寒瓜（见下文）。
【集解】瑞曰：契丹攻破回纥后，才得到这种瓜种，用牛粪覆盖土壤进行种植。结出的果实像斗一样大，形状圆如匏瓜，颜色像青玉，籽粒像金色或黑麻色。北方地区多有种植。
时珍曰：据胡峤《陷虏记》记载：胡峤征讨回纥，带回这种种子，命名为西瓜。那么西瓜是在五代时期才开始传入中国的，如今南北各地都有种植，但南方的味道稍逊一筹，它也是甜瓜的一类。二月播种，藤蔓生长，花和叶都像甜瓜。七月、八月果实成熟，有的直径达一尺，长度可达二尺。其棱角或有或无，颜色有的青有的绿，瓤肉有的白有的红，红色的味道更好。籽粒有的黄有的红，有的黑有的白，白色的味道较差。味道有甘、淡、酸三种，酸味的品质最低。陶弘景在注释瓜蒂时说，永嘉有一种很大的寒瓜，可以储藏到春天，就是这种瓜。大概在五代之先，瓜种已经传入浙东，只是没有西瓜这个名字，尚未遍布中国而已。其瓜子晒干裂开取仁，生吃、炒熟吃都很好。皮不能直接吃，也可以用蜜煎制、酱腌藏。
颂曰：有一种杨溪瓜，秋天生长冬天成熟，形状略长扁且较大，瓤色像胭脂，味道更佳。可以留到第二年，说是异人留下的种子。
瓜瓤
【气味】甘、淡，寒，无毒。
瑞曰：有小毒。多吃会引起呕吐腹泻，脾胃虚弱者不可食用。与油饼同食，损伤脾脏。
时珍曰：据《延寿书》记载：北方人体质厚重，吃它还习惯；南方人体质薄弱，多吃容易引发霍乱，导致终身患冷病。又据《相感志》记载：吃西瓜后再吃它的籽，就不会打嗝带有瓜味。将瓜划破，放在太阳下晒一会儿再吃，就会变得冰凉如水。遇到酒气或靠近糯米，就容易腐烂。猫踩过的地方，瓜肉容易变沙。
【主治】消除烦热、止渴，解除暑热（吴瑞）。治疗喉痹（汪颖）。宽中理气、通利小便，治疗血痢，解酒毒（宁原）。含汁液，治疗口疮（震亨）。
【发明】颖曰：西瓜性寒能清热，有“天生白虎汤”的称号。然而也不宜多吃。
时珍曰：西瓜、甜瓜都属于生冷之物。世俗之人认为它们像醍醐灌顶、甘露洒心那样爽快，只图一时的快感，却不知道它们伤害脾脏、助长湿气的危害。《真西山卫生歌》说：“瓜果桃子生冷宜少吃，以免秋天落下疟疾痢疾的毛病。”这是对的。又李鹏飞《延寿书》记载：防州太守陈逢原，避暑时吃瓜过多，到了秋天突然腰腿疼痛，无法行动。遇到商助教治疗后才痊愈。这些都是吃瓜带来的祸患，所以记录在此，作为借鉴警戒。又洪忠宣《松漠纪闻》记载：有人苦于眼病。有人让他把西瓜切片晒干，每天服用，于是痊愈了。这是因为西瓜性冷降火的原因。
皮
【气味】甘，凉，无毒。
【主治】口腔、舌头、嘴唇内部生疮，烧成研末含服（震亨）。
【附方】新收录两则。
闲挫腰痛：西瓜青皮，阴干后研为粉末，用盐和酒调服三钱。（《摄生众妙方》）
吃瓜过量受伤：用瓜皮煎汤解毒。所有瓜类都适用。（《事林广记》）
瓜子仁
【气味】甘，寒，无毒。
【主治】功效与甜瓜仁相同（时珍）。
(Quoted from *Riyong Bencao*)
[Names] Cold Melon (see below).
[Collection and Explanation] Rui said: After the Khitan defeated the Uyghurs, they obtained this variety of melon seed. It was planted by covering the soil with cow dung. The fruit grew as large as a dou (a unit of volume), round like a calabash, green in color like jade, with seeds that were golden or blackish-hemp colored. It was widely grown in the northern regions.
Shizhen said: According to Hu Qiao's *Records of Being Captured*, Hu Qiao campaigned against the Uyghurs and brought back this seed, naming it Watermelon. Thus, watermelon began to enter China during the Five Dynasties period. Now it is grown in both north and south, though the southern varieties taste slightly inferior; it belongs to the category of sweet melons. Seeds are sown in February, growing vines; flowers and leaves resemble those of sweet melons. Fruits ripen in July and August, some reaching a circumference of one chi or a length of two chi. Ridges may be present or absent; colors vary from green to dark green; flesh ranges from white to red, with red-fleshed ones tasting superior. Seeds vary in color—yellow, red, black, or white—with white-seeded ones being inferior in taste. Flavors include sweet, bland, and sour, with sour being the lowest grade. Tao Hongjing, in his commentary on the melon stalk, mentioned that in Yongjia there existed a very large "cold melon" that could be stored until spring; this refers to the watermelon. Presumably, before the Five Dynasties, melon seeds had already entered eastern Zhejiang, but without the name "watermelon," and had not yet spread throughout China. The seeds can be dried, cracked open, and the kernels extracted; they are excellent whether eaten raw or roasted. The rind is not suitable for direct consumption but can be preserved in honey or sauce.
Song said: There is a variety called Yangxi Melon, which grows in autumn and matures in winter. It is slightly oblong and large, with flesh colored like carmine, and tastes superior. It can be kept until the following year, said to be a seed left behind by an extraordinary person.
Melon Flesh
[Properties and Flavor] Sweet, bland, cold, non-toxic.
Rui said: It has slight toxicity. Excessive consumption causes vomiting and diarrhea; those with weak spleens should not eat it. Eating it with fried dough sticks damages the spleen.
Shizhen said: According to *Yanshu* (Book of Longevity): People in the north have robust constitutions and tolerate eating it well; people in the south have delicate constitutions, and excessive consumption easily leads to cholera-like disorders and lifelong cold diseases. Furthermore, according to *Xianggan Zhi*: Eating the seeds after consuming watermelon prevents belching with the melon odor. If the melon is sliced and exposed to the sun for a short time before eating, it becomes cold as water. Exposure to alcohol fumes or proximity to sticky rice causes it to rot easily. If stepped on by a cat, the flesh becomes sandy.
[Indications] Relieves irritability and thirst, clears summer-heat (Wu Rui). Treats throat obstruction (Wang Ying). Regulates the middle jiao, promotes urination, treats bloody dysentery, and detoxifies alcohol (Ning Yuan). Holding the juice in the mouth treats mouth sores (Zhen Heng).
[Elucidation] Ying said: Watermelon is cold in nature and clears heat, earning the title "Natural Baihu Decoction" (White Tiger Decoction). However, it should not be consumed in excess.
Shizhen said: Both watermelon and sweet melon belong to cold and raw foods. Common people believe they provide the refreshing sensation of ghee poured over the head or sweet dew sprinkled on the heart, seeking only momentary pleasure, unaware of their harm to the spleen and promotion of dampness. The *Zhen Xishan Weisheng Ge* (Song of Health Preservation by Zhen Xishan) states: "Fruits, peaches, and cold/raw foods should be eaten sparingly, to avoid malaria and dysentery in autumn." This is correct. Additionally, Li Pengfei's *Yanshu* records: Chen Fengyuan, Prefect of Fangzhou, ate too many melons while escaping the summer heat. In autumn, he suddenly suffered from waist and leg pain, rendering him immobile. He was cured by Assistant Instructor Shang. These are all hazards associated with eating melons; thus, they are recorded here as a warning. Also, Hong Zhongxuan's *Songmo Jiwen* (Record of Observations in Songmo) mentions: Someone suffered from eye disease. Someone suggested slicing watermelon, drying it in the sun, and taking it daily, which led to recovery. This is due to its cold nature reducing fire.
Rind
[Properties and Flavor] Sweet, cool, non-toxic.
[Indications] Sores inside the mouth, tongue, and lips. Burn to ash, grind into powder, and hold in the mouth (Zhen Heng).
[Attached Formulas] Two new formulas.
Waist and lower back pain from strain: Dried green rind of watermelon, ground into powder, taken with salt and wine, 3 qian per dose. (*Shesheng Zhongmiao Fang*)
Injury from excessive melon consumption: Decoct melon rind in water to resolve the toxicity. Applies to all melons. (*Shilin Guangji*)
Melon Kernels
[Properties and Flavor] Sweet, cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Same efficacy as sweet melon kernels (Shizhen).