冬葵子 Curled Mallow (Auk)

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

1. 性寒一云冷, 味甘, 無毒.

   Its nature is cold, though one account calls it chilly; its taste is sweet, and it is non-toxic.

   HomiclubDonggyuja is the seed of auk (curled mallow), an annual in the mallow family alongside hibiscus and cotton. Its leaves are the ones simmered with soybean paste into auk soup.

2. 治五淋, 利小便. 除五藏六府寒熱, 婦人乳難內閉.

   It addresses the five rim (五淋, strangury patterns) and promotes urination. It removes cold and heat in the five jang and six bu (五藏六府) and relieves a woman's difficulty in nursing and internal blockage.

3. 秋種葵, 覆養經冬, 至春作子, 謂之冬葵, 多入藥用.

   Mallow sown in autumn, covered and tended through the winter, sets seed by spring; this is called donggyu (冬葵) and is much used in medicine.

   HomiclubSowing in autumn and covering the bed through winter is the same overwintering practice used today. Mallow bolts in spring and forms a round, cushion-shaped fruit in which the seeds sit in a ring like wedges.

4. 性至滑利, 能下石. 春葵子亦滑, 然不堪藥用.

   Its nature is extremely slippery and free-flowing, able to bring down stones. Spring-sown mallow seed is slippery too, but it is not fit for medicinal use.

5. 霜後葵不可食, 動痰吐水.

   Mallow after frost must not be eaten, for it stirs phlegm and brings up watery vomit.

6. 子微炒碎用. 《本草》

   The seed is lightly roasted, crushed, and used. 《Boncho (本草)》