狗脊 Gucheok (구척)

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

1. 性平一云微溫, 味苦甘一云辛, 無毒. 治毒風, 軟脚風, 寒濕痺, 腎氣虛弱, 腰膝强痛.

   Its nature is neutral, though one account calls it slightly warm; its taste is bitter and sweet, though one account calls it pungent, and it is non-toxic. It treats dokpung (毒風, toxic wind), yeongakpung (軟脚風, weak-leg wind), bi (痺) patterns from cold and damp, weakness of the sin (腎, kidney) qi, and stiff painful lower back and knees.

   HomiclubGucheok is the rhizome of a large fern (Cibotium). Long and much-branched, it resembles a dog's backbone, which gives it the name gucheok — gu (狗, dog) plus cheok (脊, spine).

2. 頗利老人, 療失尿不節.

   It is of considerable benefit to the elderly, and treats involuntary loss of urine that cannot be held back.

3. 根長而多岐, 狀如狗脊骨, 故以名之. 其肉作靑綠色. 二月八月採根, 暴乾. 《本草》

   The root is long and much divided, shaped like a dog's spine, and so it is named. Its flesh takes on a blue-green colour. Dig the root in the second or eighth month and dry it in the sun. 《Boncho (本草)》

4. 形似狗脊黃毛者, 佳, 故名金毛狗脊. 火燎去毛, 酒拌蒸, 曬乾用. 《入門》

   Those shaped like a dog's spine and covered with yellow hairs are the good ones, and so it is called geummo-gucheok (金毛狗脊, golden-haired dog spine). Singe off the hairs over a flame, steam it mixed with wine, then sun-dry it for use. 《Immun (入門)》

   HomiclubThe rhizome is clothed in soft golden hairs, hence the name geummo-gucheok, golden-haired dog spine. These hairs were singed off over a flame before use.