石斛 Syeokgokpul (셕곡풀)

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

1. 性平, 味甘, 無毒.

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

   HomiclubSeokgok is a perennial orchid that lives attached to rock or bark. It belongs to the epiphytic orchid group known today as Dendrobium, and is grown mounted on bark or moss rather than potted in soil.

2. 治腰脚軟弱, 補虛損, 壯筋骨, 煖水藏, 補腎塡精, 養腎氣, 止腰痛.

   It treats weakness and softness of the lower back and legs, supplements depletion, strengthens sinew and bone, warms the water viscus, supplements the sin (腎, kidney) and fills the jeong (精, essence), nourishes kidney qi, and stops lumbar pain.

3. 生水傍石上. 細實而黃色.

   It grows on rocks beside water. It is slender and firm, and yellow in color.

   HomiclubThe line about growing on rock describes the life of an epiphytic orchid exactly. Its roots are not buried in soil but left open to the air, drawing on moisture and moss, which is why it favors damp settings such as cliffs beside water.

4. 以桑灰湯沃之, 色如金, 形如蚱蜢髀者, 爲佳, 世謂之金釵石斛.

   Those that turn gold in color when scalded with mulberry-ash lye and are shaped like a locust's thigh are the good ones; the world calls these geumchaseokgok (金釵石斛, golden-hairpin seokgok).

5. 七月八月採莖, 陰乾. 入藥酒洗蒸用. 《本草》

   Gather the stems in the seventh and eighth months and dry them in the shade. For use in medicine, wash them with wine and steam them. 《Boncho (本草)》