Watermelon
Medicinal Profile of
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)
Watermelon, native to Africa and cultivated for millennia, is more than just a refreshing summer fruit. Its high water content and electrolytes make it deeply hydrating, while lycopene and citrulline give it specific medicinal value for the cardiovascular and urinary systems. At therapeutic intake, watermelon helps cool excess heat, clear fluid stagnation, and support vascular relaxation.
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👉 Tastes describe the initial impression a food leaves on the tongue, and they reveal its deeper actions in the body, shaping digestion, circulation, and tissue response.
Sweet – Nourishing, moistening, gently replenishing fluids.
Sour (mild, from fruit acids) – Lightly stimulating to digestion and circulation.
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👉 Qualities describe the felt nature of a substance or practice, and how it acts in the body beyond nutrients or chemistry.
At medicinal / therapeutic doses:
Cooling – Clears internal heat, soothes inflammation, reduces irritation.
Light – Easy to digest, uplifting, relieves heaviness.
Moistening – Restores fluids, hydrates tissues, relieves dryness.
Circulating – Improves blood flow and relaxes vessels through citrulline content.
Clearing - Clears excess fluids, edema, and congestive buildup with inflammation through urination.
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👉 Terrain patterns describe the body’s functional state, showing when a herb is most helpful or aggravating, while affinities identify the organ systems or tissues where its actions are most directly felt.
👉 To learn more about these patterns in depth, read this blog.Hyperreactivity with Heat/Excitation (Primary Indicated Terrain Pattern) – Excess heat, inflammation, irritation, burning sensations.
Cardiovascular System (Affinity) – Lycopene and citrulline reduce vascular reactivity and support vessel relaxation.
Immune System (Affinity) – Cooling antioxidants calm inflammatory responses.
Form & Application: Fresh fruit, fresh juice.
Dose: 1–2 cups fresh fruit daily, or 1 cup fresh juice.———————————————————
Fluid Congestion and Stagnation (Secondary Indicated Terrain Pattern) – Swelling, edema, sluggish circulation, urinary stagnation.
Renal/Urinary System (Affinity) – Promotes urination, reduces fluid retention.
Cardiovascular System (Affinity) – Supports clearance of vascular congestion and heaviness.
Form & Application: Fresh fruit, juice, or rind decoction (traditional).
Dose: 1–2 cups fresh fruit or juice as needed for fluid stagnation. -
👉 Nutritional values give the measurable nutrients that a food contributes to the diet.
(per 1 cup, ~154 g fresh watermelon)
Calories: 46 kcal
Carbohydrates: 11 g
Fiber: 0.6 g
Protein: 0.9 g
Vitamin C: 12 mg (20% DV)
Vitamin A (beta-carotene): ~865 IU (17% DV)
Potassium: 170 mg
Magnesium: 15 mg
Water: ~90%
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Fresh fruit – Best way to replenish fluids and antioxidants.
Fresh juice – Concentrated hydration and circulatory support.
Rind decoction (traditional Chinese medicine) – Used for edema, urinary stagnation, and summer heat conditions.
Frozen/pureed – Preserves nutrients, especially in therapeutic smoothies.
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Cardiovascular System
Vasodilator – Citrulline relaxes blood vessels, lowers blood pressure.
Antioxidant – Lycopene protects vascular tissues.
Circulatory supportive – Reduces vascular reactivity and congestion.
Urinary / Renal System
Diuretic – Promotes urination, reduces edema and fluid retention.
Cooling eliminant – Clears heat via the urinary tract.
Immune System
Anti-inflammatory – Calms irritation, reduces oxidative stress.
Cooling – Relieves heat-related inflammatory states.
Digestive System
Hydrating digestive tonic – Soothes mild gastric irritation, restores fluids.
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Lycopene (carotenoid) – Antioxidant, vascular-protective.
Citrulline (amino acid) – Vasodilatory, nitric oxide precursor.
Vitamin C – Antioxidant, immune supportive.
Vitamin A (beta-carotene) – Supports skin and immune health.
Potassium & Magnesium – Electrolyte balance.
Water (~90%) – Hydration, fluid replenishment.
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Second Degree – Gentle systemic effects with consistent intake; best for cooling and fluid-regulating indications.
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Antihypertensives – Possible additive effect (vasodilation).
Diuretics – May enhance fluid-loss effect.
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Generally safe – Well tolerated in most constitutions.
Excess intake – May chill digestion or increase urination excessively.
Children & pregnancy – Safe in moderate amounts.
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Traditional Sources
Chinese medicine – Used as a summer heat-clearing food and urinary diuretic (Xi Gua Pi).
African traditional use – Hydration and fever support.
Modern Sources
Collins, J. K., et al. (2007). “Watermelon consumption increases plasma arginine concentrations in adults.” Nutrition, 23(3), 261–266.
Edwards, A. J., et al. (2003). “Consumption of watermelon juice increases plasma concentrations of lycopene and β-carotene in humans.” J Nutr, 133(4), 1043–1050.
USDA FoodData Central (2024). Nutrient data for watermelon.
