萆薢 멸앳불휘 (비해)

Original, read line by line 東醫寶鑑 · 탕액편 권3

1. 性平, 味苦甘, 無毒.

   성평, 미고감, 무독.

   Its nature is neutral, the taste bitter and sweet, with no toxicity. A mild herb that bears long-term use well.

2. 主風濕周痺, 惡瘡不瘳, 冷風㿏痺, 腰脚不遂, 䐴腰痛.

   주풍습주비, 악창불추, 냉풍완비, 요각불수, 츤요통.

   It treats numbness from wind-damp over the whole body, sores that refuse to heal, paralysis from cold wind, an unresponsive lower back and legs, and sudden lumbar pain. In short, it loosens a body stiffened by damp and cold.

3. 久冷是腎間有膀胱宿水. 療陽痿失尿.

   구냉시신간유방광숙수. 료양위실뇨.

   Chronic coldness was thought to come from stale bladder fluid lodged between the kidneys, and bichae drains it while also treating impotence and urinary incontinence. It opens the stagnant waterways of the lower abdomen.

4. 處處有之, 葉似薯蕷, 蔓生.

   처처유지, 엽사서여, 만생.

   It grows everywhere, its leaves resembling those of the yam, and it spreads as a vine. You can meet it without much trouble on hillsides and in fields.

5. 二月八月採根, 暴乾.

   이월팔월채근, 폭건.

   The root is dug in the second and eighth lunar months and sun-dried. These are the seasons when the medicinal strength gathers most fully in the root.

6. 有二種. 莖有刺, 根白實, 無刺者, 根虛軟, 以軟者爲佳. 《本草》

   유이종. 경유자, 근백실, 무자자, 근허연, 이연자위가. 《본초》

   There are two kinds. The thorny-stemmed one has a white, firm root; the thornless one has a hollow, soft root, and the softer is preferred. Recorded in the Bencao.

7. 一名土茯苓, 一名仙遺粮, 又名冷飯團.

   일명토복령, 일명선유량, 우명냉반단.

   It is also called tubokryeong, seonyuryang, and naengbandan. The nicknames meaning a sage's leftover ration and a lump of cold rice carry the memory of a root that sustained people through hard times.

8. 性熱, 味甘辛, 無毒.

   성열, 미감신, 무독.

   Its nature is hot, the taste sweet and pungent, with no toxicity. Unlike the neutral bichae above, this one warms places that are cold and rigid.

9. 善治久病楊梅瘡漏, 及曾誤服輕粉, 肢體廢壤, 筋骨痠疼者.

   선치구병양매창루, 급증오복경분, 지체폐양, 근골산동자.

   It effectively treats long-standing syphilitic sores and fistulas, and those whose limbs have been ruined and whose tendons and bones ache from mistakenly taking calomel. Yangmaechang refers to syphilis and gyeongbun to mercury preparations, so it also unwinds the damage of harsh drugs.

10. 能收其毒而祛其風, 補其虛, 尋常老弱亦可服.

    능수기독이거기풍, 보기허, 심상노약역가복.

    It draws in the toxin, dispels wind, and supplements weakness, so even ordinary elderly or frail people may take it. Its reach is wide yet it does not harm the one who takes it.

11. 酒浸或鹽水煮, 焙乾用.

    주침혹염수자, 배건용.

    Soak it in wine or boil it in salt water, then dry it over gentle heat for use. Wine and salt help carry the medicine into the deeper recesses of the body.

12. 若初起, 肺熱便秘者, 不宜服. 《入門》

    약초기, 폐열변비자, 불의복. 《입문》

    In the early onset, or for those with lung-heat and constipation, it should not be taken, since its warming nature can worsen the heat. Recorded in the Ipmun.