Xī Guā · Watermelon
Xī Guā (西瓜, Watermelon) is a herb of Cold nature and Sweet flavor, in the “Heat Clearing” category. Tradition uses it to clear Summer Heat, Generate Fluids, Promote Urination.
Energetic profile
- Pinyin name
- Xī Guā
- Characters
- 西瓜
- Botanical name
- Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai
- Family
- Cucurbitaceae
- Part used
- Fruit
- Nature
- Cold
- Flavor
- Sweet
- Meridians
- Heart, Stomach, Bladder
- Category
- Heat Clearing
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic
- Pregnancy
- No contraindication described (always consult)
- Origin
- Africa, China
Actions according to tradition
- Clear Summer Heat
- Generate Fluids
- Promote Urination
- Relieve Irritability
Traditional uses
- Summer heat with thirst
- Heat irritability
- Sore throat and mouth sores
- Difficult urination
- Alcohol toxicity
Studied effects and current applications
- Cooling and hydrating
- Reduces fever
- Lowers blood pressure
- Supports kidney function
- Antioxidant
- Heart health
Applications under investigation
- Heat stroke prevention
- Hypertension
- Kidney stones
- Muscle soreness
- Dehydration
- Exercise recovery
An effect being investigated does not mean it has been proven in humans.
Contraindications and adverse effects
Absolute contraindications
- None (food)
Relative contraindications
- Diabetes (monitor blood sugar)
- Spleen deficiency with cold (excessive amounts)
- Pregnancy
- Safe food. Commonly consumed during pregnancy.
- Breastfeeding
- Safe to eat while breastfeeding.
- Children
- Safe for children. Very hydrating.
- Older adults
- Safe and beneficial
Possible adverse effects
- Diarrhea (excessive amounts)
- Increased urination
- Blood sugar spikes (excessive amounts)
When to stop
- Digestive upset
- Diarrhea
Interactions with medications
| Group | Drugs | Severity | Effect and recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diuretics | Furosemide, HCTZ | Mild | Additive diuretic effect Monitor fluid balance and electrolytes |
Reference dose
- Fresh
- Eat 100-300g flesh as food, or juice
- Decoction
- 9-30 grams dried rind/seeds per day
- Juice
- 100-200 ml daily
- Acute use
- As needed for heat
- Chronic use
- Seasonal use
- Maximum
- Moderate intake
- Children
- Safe, cooling summer fruit.
Forms of preparation
Eat flesh fresh or as juice. Clear summer heat.
Summer heat, thirst, urinary difficulty
Approximate doses from the literature; they are not a prescription. Consult a professional.
Active compounds
Lycopene, citrulline and cucurbitacins
Carotene (acyclic carotenoid) · Powerful antioxidant, chemopreventive (prostate), cardioprotective
Singlet oxygen uptake (×10 beta-carotene), IGF-1 inhibition, LDL protection · 2.3-7.2mg/100g in pulp (major food source)
Non-essential amino acid · Vasodilator, improves sports performance, reduces muscle fatigue
Conversion to arginine → nitric oxide (NO) synthesis → vasodilation · 0.7-3.5mg/g in pulp; greater in peel (4.6mg/g)
Carotene (pro-vitamin A) · Antioxidant, immunostimulant
Radical scavenging, conversion to vitamin A in the intestine · 0.3-0.8mg/100g
Tetracyclic triterpenes · Anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor (very low in pulp)
STAT3 and JAK2 inhibition (at high concentrations) · Traces in seed; minimum in pulp
organic acids · Urinary alkalizer, mild chelator
Urinary pH modulation, facilitation of mineral excretion · 0.1-0.2%
Harvesting and processing
- Harvest
- Summer (June-August) at full maturity
Fresh fruit in summer. The white bark (西瓜翠衣 Xī Guā Cuì Yī) is processed and dried as its own medicine. The outer green bark is less used. The red pulp and juice are the primary therapeutic forms.
Ripe fruit consumed directly. Fresh juice is the most effective medicinal form for heat stroke and summer thirst.
The white part of the bark (mesocarp) peeled, cut into strips and dried in the sun. More diuretic than pulp. Available all year round unlike fresh fruit.
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
