Watermelon

수박 (西瓜) · Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai

Heat-clearing, summer-relieving food herb Cold Sweet, very mild Heart, Stomach, Bladder

NatureCold

TasteSweet, very mild

MeridiansHeart, Stomach, Bladder

Part usedFruit

FamilyCucurbitaceae

CategoryHeat-clearing, summer-relieving food herb

Find by concern: Thirst

Overview

Watermelon is the quintessential Korean summer fruit, and the Donguibogam records a story about its origin — that it entered the region after the Khitan people defeated the Uyghurs and obtained the seed. Its core action, suppressing vexing thirst and resolving summer heat, is exactly why it's still reached for on hot days.

In the Donguibogam

東醫
寶鑑

性寒, 味甘極淡, 無毒. 壓煩渴, 消暑毒, 寬中下氣, 利小便. 治血痢, 療口瘡.

Source: Donguibogam, Tangaek-pyeon (Herbology volume)

TranslationIts nature is cold, its taste sweet and very mild, and it is non-toxic. It suppresses vexing thirst, resolves summer-heat toxicity, relaxes the middle and brings down qi, and benefits urination. It treats bloody dysentery and heals mouth sores.

Traditional functions

Relieves summer heat
Suppresses thirst
Benefits urination
Heals mouth sores

Traditional applications

Summer heat exhaustion and thirst
Mouth ulcers
Reduced urination in hot weather

Traditional preparation

Eaten fresh, chilled, in season; a related variety with long-keeping storage is separately noted in the classical text.

Cautions

Caution: A very cold-natured fruit; suited to hot-weather relief but not ideal for a cold, weak digestive constitution in excess. Generally safe as a seasonal food. Consult a professional for concentrated use.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Donguibogam explain how watermelon reached Korea/China?

It records that the Khitan people obtained the seed after defeating the Uyghurs, growing it by covering the seed with cattle dung — an origin story for how the fruit spread.

What is watermelon best for according to the classics?

Suppressing vexing thirst and resolving summer-heat toxicity — exactly the reason it remains a go-to hot-weather fruit today — along with benefiting urination and healing mouth sores.

Sources

동의보감 탕액편 (원문) — 한문 원문 발췌 — 한의학고전DB 탕액편 대조 검증 완료 (DATA-001)
한의학고전DB (mediclassics.kr) — 국역 참조 후 자체 재서술 (LEGAL-001)

DonguiHub is an educational and informational platform about the history and tradition of Korean medicine. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about health conditions and before using any herb.