通草 으름덩굴 (통초)

Original, read line by line 東醫寶鑑 · 탕액편 권3

1. 性平一云微寒, 味辛甘, 無毒.

   성평 일운미한, 미신감, 무독.

   Its nature is neutral, though some sources describe it as slightly cold. The flavor is pungent and sweet, with no toxicity.

2. 治五淋, 利小便, 開關格.

   치오림, 이소변, 개관격.

   It treats the five kinds of dysuria, promotes urination, and relieves the blockage known as gwan-gyeok (upper-lower obstruction).

3. 治水腫, 除煩熱, 通利九竅, 出音聲.

   치수종, 제번열, 통리구규, 출음성.

   It relieves edema, clears agitated heat, opens up the nine orifices of the body, and restores the voice.

4. 療脾疸常欲眠, 墮胎, 去三蟲.

   요비달상욕면, 타태, 거삼충.

   It cures spleen-jaundice that brings constant drowsiness, can induce miscarriage, and expels the three kinds of intestinal worms.

5. 生山中, 作藤蔓, 大如指.

   생산중, 작등만, 대여지.

   It grows in the mountains as a climbing vine, with stems about the thickness of a finger.

6. 每節有二三枝, 枝頭出五葉, 結實如小木瓜, 核黑瓤白, 食之甘美.

   매절유이삼지, 지두출오엽, 결실여소목과, 핵흑양백, 식지감미.

   Each node sprouts two or three branches, and each branch tip bears five leaves splayed like a palm. It produces fruit the size of a small quince—black seeds with white flesh, sweet and pleasant to eat.

7. 謂之鷰覆子.

   위지연복자.

   This fruit is called yeonbokja, the swallow-cover seed.

8. 正月二月採枝, 陰乾.

   정월이월채지, 음건.

   The branches are harvested in the first or second lunar month and dried in the shade, away from direct sun.

9. 莖有細孔, 兩頭皆通, 含一頭吹之, 則氣出彼頭者, 良. 《本草》

   경유세공, 양두개통, 함일두취지, 즉기출피두자, 양. 《본초》

   The stem contains a fine channel that runs from end to end. A good specimen lets air pass clear through when blown into from one side. (Bencao)

10. 通草卽木通也. 心空有瓣, 輕白可愛. 去皮節生用. 通行十二經, 故名爲通草. 《入門》

    통초즉목통야. 심공유판, 경백가애. 거피절생용. 통행십이경, 고명위통초. 《입문》

    Tongcho is the very same as moktong. Its hollow center holds thin partitions, and it is light and white—quite handsome. The bark and nodes are removed and it is used raw. Because it courses through all twelve meridians, it earns the name tongcho, the through-passing herb. (Ipmun)

11. 木通, 性平味甘而淡. 主小便不利. 導小腸熱, 通經利竅. 《湯液》

    목통, 성평미감이담. 주소변불리. 도소장열, 통경리규. 《탕액》

    Moktong is neutral in nature, sweet yet bland in flavor. It treats urinary difficulty, draws out heat trapped in the small intestine, opens the meridians, and clears the body's passageways. (Tangaek)

12. 木通通草, 乃一物也. 處處有之.

    목통통초, 내일물야. 처처유지.

    Moktong and tongcho are one and the same plant, and it can be found growing everywhere.

13. 江原道出一種藤, 名爲木通, 色黃味苦, 瀉濕熱, 通水道, 有效.

    강원도출일종등, 명위목통, 색황미고, 사습열, 통수도, 유효.

    In Gangwon-do there is a kind of vine also called moktong—yellow in color and bitter in taste—which works well at draining damp-heat and opening the body's water passages.

14. 治瘡亦效, 別是一物也.

    치창역효, 별시일물야.

    It is also effective for treating sores, but this should be regarded as a separate plant from the original moktong.

15. 或云, 名爲木防己, 瀉濕爲最. 《俗方》

    혹운, 명위목방기, 사습위최. 《속방》

    Some call it mokbanggi (woody fangji) and say nothing surpasses it for draining dampness from the body. (Sokbang)

16. 子

    자

    On the fruit.

17. 名鷰覆子, 木通實也. 莖名木通, 又名通草.

    명연복자, 목통실야. 경명목통, 우명통초.

    The fruit is called yeonbokja, the very fruit of moktong. The stem itself is called moktong, also known as tongcho.

18. 七八月採, 性寒, 味甘.

    칠팔월채, 성한, 미감.

    It is harvested in the seventh or eighth month; cold in nature and sweet in taste.

19. 主胃熱反胃.

    주위열반위.

    It treats regurgitation caused by heat accumulating in the stomach.

20. 除三焦客熱, 利大小便, 寬心止渴. 《本草》

    제삼초객열, 이대소변, 관심지갈. 《본초》

    It clears wandering heat from the triple burner, regulates both bowels and urination, eases the constricted chest, and quenches thirst. (Bencao)

21. 根

    근

    On the root.

22. 卽木通根也. 主項下癭瘤.

    즉목통근야. 주항하영류.

    This is the root of moktong, and it treats goiters and tumors that form below the neck.