Tangaek — Decoctions · Herbs
仁 Haneultari Ssi (하늘타리 씨)
This is the seed found inside the fruit of the haneultari — the trichosanthes vine, a member of the gourd family. The seeds are flat and oval with a distinctly raised rim, and in the herbal tradition they are known as gwaru-in (瓜蔞仁), literally "trichosanthes kernel."
The original text records how the seeds were prepared for medicinal use: they were gathered in the ninth and tenth lunar months, once the fruit had ripened to a reddish yellow, then roasted, with the husk and oil removed before use. Like the seeds of other gourd-family plants, they are naturally rich in oil — which is why removing that oil was a distinct step in the preparation.
Original, read line by line 東醫寶鑑 · Tangaek — Decoctions vol. 2
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卽瓜蔞實中之子也. 性潤味甘, 能補肺. 潤能降氣.
It is the seed inside the gwaru fruit. Its nature is moistening and its taste sweet, so it can supplement the lung. Being moistening, it can send qi downward.
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胸有痰火者, 得甘緩潤下之助, 則痰自降, 宜爲治嗽要藥也. 《丹心》
When one with phlegm-fire in the chest receives the aid of what is sweet, slow, moistening, and descending, the phlegm goes down of itself; it is fittingly an essential medicine for treating cough. 《Dansim (丹心)》
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九月十月實熟赤黃色時, 取子, 炒去殼去油用. 俗名瓜蔞仁. 《入門》
In the ninth and tenth months, when the fruit ripens to a reddish yellow, take the seeds, roast them, remove the husk, press out the oil, and use them. Their common name is gwaruin (瓜蔞仁). 《Ipmun (入門)》
HomiclubCucurbit seeds are oily and turn rancid in storage, and roasting, husking, and pressing out the oil is a preparation fitted to that trait. The seed is a flat oval with a raised rim around its edge, easy to recognize.
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