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Sweet Melon
Cucumis melo, MUSK MELON
CANTELOUPE, TIAN GUA
The sweet melon, tian gua, is also called xiang guo (fragrant melon) and gan
gua (sweet melon). It is an annual vine. The fruit is slightly oval or
ball-shaped with a diameter of 120-180 mm. The top of the fruit has a
carpopodium. The surface of the fruit is smooth and light yellow in color.
The flesh is white with abundant juice, and the flavor is sweet or slightly
sweet with a fragrant perfume. In the centre of the fruit are pale yellow
seeds.
The fruit ripens in the summer, when its flavor becomes sweet. Its nature is
cool and it contains no poison. Its virtue is that it can cool fevers,
moisten the lungs and benefit the urine.
The flavor of the stalk is bitter, its nature cool, and it contains some
poison. It can cause vomiting and help reduce jaundice.
The flavor of the seeds is sweet and of a cool nature. They help clear
phlegm and benefit the intestines.
The fresh fruit contains globulin, citric acid, carotene and vitamins B, C,
etc. The stem contains melonemetin and the seeds contain oil, etc.
APPLICATIONS
1. FEVER WITH THIRST; URINE RED IN COLOR AND LACKING QUANTITY, WITH PAIN IN
URINATING. Take 250-500 grams of fresh fruit and eat the full amount in the
morning and again in the evening.
2. TUBERCULOSIS COUGH. Take 250 grams of fresh fruit, including the seeds
and pulp, add an appropriate amount of sugar, add water and steam, then mash
and serve. Do this once or twice a day.
3. FOOD POISONING. 0.6-0.9 grams of fruit stem and 3 grams of mung beans (Phaseolus
mungo). Crush finely, add warm water and serve to the patient. This will
induce vomiting and should be done as soon as possible as a temporary
first-aid method.
4. ACUTE INFECTIOUS HEPATITIS; CHRONIC HEPATITIS; CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER.
The stem of the fruit is dried and crushed to a fine powder. At breakfast a
small amount of this powder is sniffed into the nose. This is done 3 times
at 40 minute intervals. Repeat every 7-10 days. Treatment consists of doing
this four times. Yellow matter will come out when the nose is blown.
5. CONSTIPATION. Take 500 grams of fresh fruit, including pulp and seeds and
eat this amount daily in the morning and again in the evening.
6. APPENDICITIS; PULMONARY ABSCESS. Take 30 grams of the seed and crush
them, 15 grams of wild buckwheat root (Fagopyrum cymosum) and an appropriate
amount of sugar. Add water, steam till cooked and serve.
7. TOOTHACHE CAUSED BY WIND AND
HEAT. Take 6 grams of the melon skin, add water and steam till cooked. When
cool use as a mouth rinse.
PREPARATIONS
1. DRIED MELON STEMS. Take the stems and dry in the shade. In this form they
are used in traditional medicine.
2. DRIED MELON SEED. The seeds are washed clean and then dried in the sun.
WARNING.
If physically weak or suffering from diarrhoea or dropsy avoid eating the
melon or its seeds. If physically weak or suffering from heart problems
avoid using the powdered stems.
NOTES
Tablets containing the prepared stems of the melon can be bought from
Chinese chemists. They are used in the treatment of liver inflammation.
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