白芷 백지(구릿댓뿌리) (백지)

Original, read line by line 東醫寶鑑 · Tangaek — Decoctions vol. 3

1. 性溫, 味辛, 無毒.

   Warm in nature, pungent in taste, and free of toxicity—a gentle warming herb that suits broad use.

2. 主風邪頭痛, 目眩淚出.

   It treats headaches from wind pathogens along with dizziness and watery eyes, easing the strain of seasonal chills.

3. 主婦人漏下赤白, 血閉陰腫.

   It addresses persistent red or white vaginal discharge, blocked menses, and swelling of the genital area, restoring balance to women's circulation.

4. 破宿血, 補新血, 安胎漏滑落.

   It breaks up stagnant blood, nourishes fresh blood, and steadies a fetus at risk of leaking or miscarrying—clearing out the old to make room for the new.

5. 治乳癰, 發背, 瘰癧, 腸風, 痔瘻, 瘡痍, 疥癬.

   It treats breast abscesses, back carbuncles, scrofula, intestinal wind bleeding, fistulas, sores, and scabies—a broad ally against suppuration in flesh and skin.

6. 止痛生肌, 能排膿, 蝕膿.

   It eases pain and grows new flesh while expelling and dissolving pus—removing what must go and rebuilding what must stay.

7. 可作面脂, 潤顔色, 去面皯疵瘢.

   It can be made into a face cream, brightening complexion and fading dark spots, blemishes, and scars—the old apothecary's everyday cosmetic.

8. 處處有之, 二月八月採根, 暴乾.

   It grows in many places; the root is gathered in the second and eighth lunar months and sun-dried, capturing the strength of both spring and autumn.

9. 以黃澤者爲佳. 《本草》

   Roots with a yellow, glossy sheen are considered the finest. From the Bencao.

10. 離騷謂之葯.

    In Qu Yuan's Li Sao it is called yao, a fragrant herb celebrated in classical verse.

11. 手陽明本經藥, 足陽明手太陰, 解利風寒之劑也. 《入門》

    It is a principal herb for the Hand Yangming meridian, also entering the Foot Yangming and Hand Taiyin meridians, dispersing wind-cold. From the Yimun.

12. 葉

    The leaves.

13. 名蒚麻, 可作浴湯.

    The leaves are called limaa and can be brewed into bath water—an old custom of bathing in fragrant infusions.

14. 道家以此香浴, 去尸蟲.

    Daoists used it for fragrant baths to drive out the corpse-worms, cleansing body and spirit together through scent.

15. 又合香. 《本草》

    It is also blended into incense. From the Bencao.