Mostly in longitudinally oblong halves, 4-9 cm long, 2-5 cm wide, 1-2.5 cm thick. Externally purplish-red or reddish-brown, with irregular, deep wrinkles; edge of cut surface rolled inwards, pulp reddish-brown, central part dented, brownish-yellow. Seed long-triangular, mostly falling off. Texture hard. Odour, slightly aromatic; taste, sour.

Arthritis with ankylosis, aching and heaviness sensation of the loins and knees; systremma due to vomiting and diarrhea; edema and weakness of the legs.

1. Relieving rigidity of muscles and activating collaterals

It is often used in treating wet beriberi syndrome due to dampness, marked by swelling of the ankle joints, lumbar soreness and aching kness, swollen joints, contracture of tendons and weakness of lower limbs. To treat beriberi due to cold-dampness, it is often used with Folium Perillae, Fructus Evodiae, Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens, etc.; to treat beriberi due to damp heat, with Cortex Phellodendri, Rhizoma Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae, Herba Dendrobii, etc.; to treat lumbar soreness and aching knees, with Radix Dipsaci, Cortex Eucommiae, etc.

2. Resolving dampness and regulating the stomach

To treat syndrome due to summer-heat in the summer season, and irregular food taking, characterized by vomitting, diarrhea like cholera, even with painful legs accompanied with cntracture of muscles and tendons, it is often used either with Herba Agastachis, Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis, Rhizoma Pinelliae, etc. or with Fructus Euodiae, Caulis Perillae, etc. Sine the drug can produce the effects of resolving dampness and removing the accumulation of damp evil with its warm nature, and soothing muscles and tendons to treat contracture and pain limbs, the drug can be used in treating wet beriberi, and various kinds of contracture of muscles and tendons or painful legs.

Besides, it can be used in treating indigestion and relieving thirst since it with its sour taste has the effects of regulating middle Jiao, resolving dampness and promoting the production of body fluid.