莧實 Amaranth seed

Original, read line by line 東醫寶鑑 · Tangaek — Decoctions vol. 2

1. 性寒, 味甘, 無毒.

   Its nature is cold, its taste sweet, and it is non-toxic.

   HomiclubHyeonsil is the seed of bireum (amaranth). Amaranth is a common annual of field edges and roadsides; the grain sold today as amaranth belongs to the same genus, and its leaves are dressed as a namul side dish.

2. 主靑盲白瞖, 明目. 除邪, 利大小便, 殺蛔蟲.

   It governs cheongmaeng (靑盲, blue blindness) and baegye (白瞖, white corneal opacity) and brightens the eyes. It removes sa (邪, pathogenic qi), promotes both stool and urine, and kills roundworms.

3. 主肝風客熱, 瞖目黑花.

   It governs ganpung (肝風, liver wind) and gaekyeol (客熱, visiting heat), and eyes clouded by opacity with dark floaters.

4. 處處有之. 其子霜後方熟, 實細而黑, 九十月採之. 《本草》

   It is found everywhere. Its seed ripens only after the frost; the grains are fine and black, and they are gathered in the ninth and tenth months. 《Boncho (本草)》

   HomiclubThe note that the seed ripens only after frost matches amaranth's late-setting habit. A single plant can shed tens of thousands of seeds, which is why it also ranks among the more troublesome field weeds.