葶藶子 두루믜나이 (정력자)

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

1. 性寒, 味辛苦, 無毒.

   Cold in nature, pungent and bitter in flavor, and non-toxic. Its cold quality cools heat, its pungency disperses stagnation, and its bitterness drives downward.

2. 主肺癰上氣咳嗽.

   It primarily treats lung abscess, rising qi, and cough. It is used when pus accumulates in the lungs, breathing becomes short, and coughing will not stop.

3. 定喘促, 除胸中痰飮,

   It calms wheezing and shortness of breath and clears phlegm and thin fluids lodged in the chest. It helps when the chest feels tight and rattles with mucus.

4. 療皮間邪水上溢, 面目浮腫, 利小便.

   It treats pathogenic water that overflows between the skin and causes facial and eye swelling, and it promotes urination. It strongly drains accumulated water out through the urine.

5. 在處有之, 苗葉似薺.

   It grows commonly everywhere, and its sprouts and leaves resemble those of shepherd's purse. It is a plant easily found in our hills and fields.

6. 三月開花, 微黃結角,

   It blooms in the third month and bears slightly yellow pods. As spring deepens, small pods form along the stems.

7. 子扁小如黍粒, 色黃.

   The seeds are flat and small, about the size of millet grains, and yellow in color. These tiny yellow seeds are the part used as medicine.

8. 立夏後, 採實暴乾. 《本草》

   After the onset of summer, the fruits are gathered and dried in the sun. So it is recorded in the Bencao.

9. 性急, 善逐水, 有苦甛二種.

   Its action is swift and excels at driving out water, and there are two kinds: bitter and sweet. Though both are tinglizi, their strength differs according to taste.

10. 苦則下泄, 甛則少緩. 《湯液》

    The bitter type purges downward strongly, while the sweet type is somewhat milder. So it is explained in the Tangye Bencao.

11. 隔紙炒香, 或蒸熟用之.

    It is roasted over paper until fragrant, or steamed thoroughly before use. Rather than being used raw, it is processed so that its harshness is softened.

12. 此藥性急, 走泄爲功,

    This herb is swift by nature, and its main effect lies in driving downward and purging. Without delay, it pushes water and pathogenic factors out of the body.

13. 苦者尤甚, 甛者少緩. 《入門》

    The bitter kind acts especially fiercely, while the sweet kind is somewhat gentler. So it is recorded in the Yixue Rumen.