桑上寄生 Mistletoe

Original, read line by line 東醫寶鑑 · Tangaek — Decoctions vol. 3

1. 性平, 味苦甘, 無毒.

   Its nature is balanced and neutral, the taste is bitter with a touch of sweetness, and it carries no toxicity.

2. 助筋骨, 益血脉, 充肌膚, 長鬚眉.

   It strengthens sinews and bones, nourishes the blood vessels, plumps the flesh and skin, and helps the beard and brows grow well.

3. 主腰痛.

   It is chiefly used to relieve heavy, aching pain in the lower back.

4. 治癰腫及金瘡,

   It also treats swollen abscesses and wounds caused by metal blades, helping them heal cleanly.

5. 療女子懷胎漏血, 能令胎牢固,

   It quiets bleeding during pregnancy and helps the fetus settle firmly in the womb.

6. 除産後餘疾及崩漏.

   It clears lingering postpartum ailments and stops abnormal uterine bleeding.

7. 生老桑樹上,

   It grows as a parasite on the branches of aged mulberry trees.

8. 葉似橘而厚軟,

   Its leaves resemble those of the tangerine but are thicker and softer to the touch.

9. 莖似槐枝而肥脆.

   The stems look like locust-tree twigs but are plumper and brittle.

10. 三四月開花黃白色,

    In the third or fourth lunar month it opens yellowish-white flowers.

11. 六七月結實, 黃色如小豆大.

    By the sixth or seventh month it bears yellow fruits about the size of small red beans.

12. 他木上皆有寄生, 惟桑上者入藥.

    Parasitic mistletoe grows on many trees, yet only the one rooted on mulberry is taken as medicine.

13. 三月三日採莖葉, 陰乾.

    On the third day of the third lunar month, gather the stems and leaves and dry them slowly in the shade.

14. 此物極難得眞,

    Genuine specimens of this herb are notoriously hard to obtain, and fakes circulate easily.

15. 或云, 斷其莖而視之, 其色深黃,

    Some say that when the stem is cut, its inner color should be a deep yellow.

16. 幷實中有汁稠粘者, 爲眞. 《本草》

    In addition, the fruit must contain a thick, sticky juice — only then is it truly authentic, as recorded in the Bencao.