Tangaek — Decoctions · Herbs
葉 Daepssari Ip (댑싸리 잎)
Broom Cypress Leaf (葉)
This entry covers the leaf of the broom cypress, or kochia (Daepssari in Korean). Its leaves are narrow and elongated, growing densely along the stems so that the whole plant forms a rounded, bushy mound.
The original text of the Dongui Bogam directs that the leaves be gathered in the fourth and fifth lunar months — that is, while they are still young and tender, which was regarded as the proper time for harvesting and preparing them.
The plant will be familiar to many modern readers: this is the same kochia whose foliage turns a striking red in autumn. Its seed is a separate medicinal substance in its own right, recorded elsewhere in the Dongui Bogam under the name Jibuja (地膚子).
Original, read line by line 東醫寶鑑 · Tangaek — Decoctions vol. 2
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止赤白痢, 澁腸胃, 解惡瘡毒.
It stops red and white dysentery, astringes the intestines and stomach, and resolves the toxin of malign sores.
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洗目, 去熱暗雀盲澁痛. 四五月採, 用之. 《本草》
Used to wash the eyes, it removes dimness from heat, jangmaeng (雀盲, night blindness), and grittiness with pain. Gather it in the fourth and fifth months for use. 《Boncho (本草)》
Herbs — more entries
This is a cultural and historical record from a classical text, not a claim about any food’s effects. Nothing here is a health supplement or intended to prevent or treat disease. Consult a medical professional about health concerns. · Text: Korean Medicine Classics DB · Reading: Homiclub