For injury caused by eating too many melons, boil the rind into a soup and drink it for detoxification; this method is the same for all types of melons. from the Comprehensive Record of the Forest of Affairs

Melon Seed Kernels

Properties and Flavor: Sweet and cold, non-toxic. Its primary indications are the same as those for muskmelon seeds. per Li Shizhen

Grapes

Classified as a Superior Grade in the Classic of Materia Medica The "Superior Grade" refers to the highest category of medicines in the Shennong Bencao Jing, considered non-toxic and suitable for long-term use to promote longevity.

Explanation of Names

Putao Ancient name
Herbaceous Dragon Pearls
Li Shizhen says: In the Book of Han, Grapes are written as "Putao" (蒲桃). They can be used to make wine. When people gather for a feast (the word for a public drinking gathering is pu 酺), they become boisterously drunk; hence the name is derived from this association. Li Shizhen is noting an etymological link between the name of the fruit and the act of public drinking. The round ones are called Herbaceous Dragon Pearls; the long ones are called Horse-Teat Grapes; the white ones are called Crystal Grapes; and the black ones are called Purple Grapes. The Book of Han records that when Zhang Qian A famous diplomat who traveled to Central Asia in the 2nd century BCE. returned from his mission to the Western Regions, he first obtained this seed; however, "Grapes" were already listed in the Classic of Materia Medica by Shennong. This suggests that grapes existed in the Longxi region Modern-day Gansu province. prior to the Han dynasty, but they had simply not yet been included in the commentaries by Tao Hongjing.

Collected Explanations

The Supplementary Records of Famous Physicians says: Grapes grow in the mountain valleys of Longxi, Wuyuan, and Dunhuang. Tao Hongjing says: Envoys from the state of Wei often valued the grapes from both the north and south. They look like the Five-Flavor Berry original: "五味子" (Wuweizi) or Schisandra chinensis. but are sweet and delicious, and can be used to make wine. It is said that the juice from the vine is exceptionally fine. Northerners are often stout, healthy, and able to withstand the cold; perhaps this is because they eat this fruit? They cannot be planted south of the Huai River, much like the way the orange tree changes its nature and becomes a bitter trifoliate orange when moved north of the Yellow River. This refers to a classical Chinese idiom regarding how environment affects the essence of a plant. Some people say this plant is just the common Chaste Tree original: "蔓荊" (Manjing), a common shrub., but I fear this is an error.