大薊 항가(엉겅퀴) (대계)

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

1. 性平, 味苦, 無毒.

   성평, 미고, 무독.

   Its nature is neutral, its taste bitter, and it carries no toxicity—balanced enough for broad use without leaning hot or cold.

2. 治瘀血, 止吐衄血,

   치어혈, 지토뉵혈,

   It disperses stagnant blood while staunching vomiting of blood and nosebleeds—dispelling what is congealed and holding back what leaks.

3. 療癰腫疥癬.

   요옹종개선.

   It treats abscesses, swellings, scabies, and ringworm—skin troubles that arise when internal heat-toxin surfaces.

4. 主女子赤白帶.

   주여자적백대.

   It addresses red and white vaginal discharge in women, working on the blood stasis and damp-heat that settle in the lower body.

5. 養精保血.

   양정보혈.

   It nourishes essence and safeguards the blood—dispelling stasis without depleting what should be preserved.

6. 處處有之.

   처처유지.

   It grows everywhere—an unassuming plant easily found along fields and roadsides.

7. 五月採苗葉, 九月採根, 陰乾. 《本草》

   오월채묘엽, 구월채근, 음건. 《본초》

   Gather the shoots and leaves in the fifth month, the roots in the ninth, and dry them in the shade to preserve their gentle potency. 《Bencao》

8. 地丁, 卽大薊也.

   지정, 즉대계야.

   The herb called dìdīng is in fact dàjì, the great thistle—worth noting since old texts use varied names for the same plant.

9. 黃花者, 名黃花地丁, 紫花者, 名紫花地丁, 幷主癰腫. 《正傳》

   황화자, 명황화지정, 자화자, 명자화지정, 병주옹종. 《정전》

   The yellow-flowered kind is called huánghuā dìdīng and the purple-flowered kind zǐhuā dìdīng; both treat abscesses and swellings, their healing power steady regardless of bloom color. 《Zhengchuan》

10. 小薊 조방가

    소계 조방가

    Now we turn to xiǎojì, the lesser thistle—kin to the great thistle yet differing subtly in temperament and use.

11. 性涼, 無毒.

    성량, 무독.

    Its nature is cool and free of toxicity—leaning a step colder than the great thistle, fitting for heat conditions.

12. 治熱毒風,

    치열독풍,

    It treats wind disorders born of heat-toxin, cooling the fiery poison that drifts through the body like wind.

13. 破宿血, 止新血,

    파숙혈, 지신혈,

    It breaks up old stagnant blood while halting fresh bleeding—at once dispersing what is stale and restraining what is new.

14. 暴下血, 血崩,

    폭하혈, 혈붕,

    It addresses sudden lower bleeding and uterine flooding—useful when blood pours forth uncontrollably.

15. 金瘡出血,

    금창출혈,

    It stops bleeding from cuts inflicted by blades or metal—an emergency herb for wounds caused by sharp implements.

16. 療蜘蛛蛇蝎毒.

    요지주사갈독.

    It neutralizes the venom of spiders, snakes, and scorpions—a field antidote against the bites of small creatures.

17. 大小薊, 俱能破血, 但小薊力微, 不能消腫.

    대소계, 구능파혈, 단소계력미, 불능소종.

    Both the great and lesser thistles break up stagnant blood, yet the lesser is too mild to dissolve abscesses—similar work performed with unequal force.

18. 大小薊皆相似, 但大薊高三四尺, 葉皺,

    대소계개상사, 단대계고삼사척, 엽추,

    The two thistles look much alike, but the great thistle stands three or four feet tall with crinkled leaves—its height and wrinkled foliage marking it out.

19. 小薊高一尺許, 葉不皺.

    소계고일척허, 엽불추.

    The lesser thistle reaches only about a foot, with smooth, unwrinkled leaves—the smaller, sleeker cousin.

20. 以此爲異, 功力有殊.

    이차위이, 공력유수.

    These features set them apart, and their potency differs accordingly—form translating directly into function.

21. 大薊破血之外, 亦療癰腫,

    대계파혈지외, 역요옹종,

    Beyond breaking stasis, the great thistle also treats abscesses and swellings—reaching both inward clots and outward sores.

22. 小薊專主血疾.

    소계전주혈질.

    The lesser thistle is devoted solely to blood disorders—a specialist that confines itself to a single field.

23. 一名刺薊. 《本草》

    일명자계. 《본초》

    It is also called cìjì, the thorny thistle—a nickname drawn from the prickles bristling along its stem and leaves. 《Bencao》