"Shade melons" are planted in shaded areas. When they ripen, they are golden yellow in color, and their skin is relatively thick. They can be stored until the following spring and still taste as fresh as if they were new. These are the results of skillful cultivation techniques and are not necessarily restricted by the quality of the soil. The seeds of the sweet melon can be dried until they crack; the kernels inside can then be removed and eaten as a fruit. All melons are extremely sensitive to the scent of musk Musk (a pungent secretion from the musk deer used in perfumes and medicine); if they are exposed to it, the vine may fail to produce even a single fruit.

Melon

Pulp: Flavor and Nature
It is sweet, cold, and "slippery" In traditional medicine, "slippery" (hua) refers to foods that have a lubricating or laxative effect.. It is considered slightly toxic. Da Ming Chen Zangqi, an 8th-century pharmacologist. says it is non-toxic. Sun Simiao A famous Tang Dynasty physician often called the "King of Medicine." says that eating too much causes jaundice original: 黃疸 (huangdan) and leaves a person weak and emaciated. There are many contraindications to consider.

Medicinal Effects and Cautions
If people who are recovering from an illness eat too much, it may cause nausea and vomiting. For those suffering from Leg Qi Leg Qi (a condition often associated with beriberi, characterized by swelling, numbness, and weakness in the legs), eating melons will ensure the ailment is never cured. Chen Shizhen A Tang Dynasty scholar and dietary expert. says: Eating too much causes dampness and itching in the groin, leads to the formation of sores, triggers chronic "cold masses" Cold masses (lumps or stagnation in the abdomen believed to be caused by the accumulation of "cold" energy), and can cause abdominal pain.

"Deficiency heat" A state of feverishness or agitation caused by a lack of cooling fluids in the body. from melons causes belching, weak breath, and weakness in the hands and feet. Eating a small amount is acceptable. The Longyu Hetu An ancient apocryphal text of mystical and naturalist lore. states: Any melon with "two noses" Referring to two protrusions at the base. or "two belts" Referring to double stems or distinct patterns. can be fatal. In the fifth lunar month, any melon that sinks in water will cause a "cold illness" if eaten, which will not be cured for the rest of one's life. Melons that have been touched by frost in the ninth month will cause chills and fever during the winter. Eating melons alongside oil-fried cakes will cause illness. If one suffers from bloating after eating too much melon, eating salt flowers High-quality salt crystals. will cause the melon to dissolve.

Tao Hongjing A famous 5th-century Daoist and alchemist who organized the early Materia Medica. says: If you eat too much melon, simply stepping into water will cause the melon to be cleared and dissolved through the urine. Li Shizhen says: Zhang Hua's Record of Diverse Matters original: 博物志 (Bowu Zhi); a 3rd-century collection of wonders and natural history. claims that if a person soaks in cold water up to their knees, they can eat dozens of melons at once. If they soak up to their neck, they can eat even more. The water itself then takes on the scent of melons. The fact that water dissolves melon is simply part of the plant's nature. Melons are most incompatible with musk and wine. If one has eaten too much, drinking wine or water, or even taking a dose of musk, is even more effective for relief than eating salt.