連翹 개나리 열매 (연교)

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

1. 性平, 味苦, 無毒.

   성평, 미고, 무독.

   Its nature is neutral, its taste bitter, and it carries no toxicity. A balanced herb whose bitterness is its defining character.

2. 主瘰癧, 癰腫, 惡瘡, 癭瘤, 結熱, 蠱毒.

   주나력, 옹종, 악창, 영류, 결열, 고독.

   It treats scrofula, abscesses and swellings, malignant sores, goiter-like lumps, congested heat, and parasitic toxins. In short, it dissolves what has gathered, festered, or knotted within the body.

3. 排膿, 治瘡癤, 止痛.

   배농, 치창절, 지통.

   It drains pus, heals sores and boils, and relieves pain. It calms the festering site and eases the ache that comes with it.

4. 療五淋, 小便不通, 除心家客熱.

   요오림, 소변불통, 제심가객열.

   It cures the five forms of stranguria and urinary blockage, and clears the stray heat lodged about the heart. It opens the lower passage while cooling the stifling warmth above.

5. 葉似水蘇, 莖赤色, 高三四尺, 花黃可愛.

   엽사수소, 경적색, 고삼사척, 화황가애.

   Its leaves resemble water mint, its stem is reddish, it grows three or four feet tall, and its yellow flowers are lovely. Picture the cheerful golden bloom of forsythia along the spring roadsides.

6. 秋結實作房, 剖之中解, 纔乾便落, 不着莖.

   추결실작방, 부지중해, 재건변락, 부착경.

   In autumn the fruits form little chambered pods that split down the middle when opened, and once dried they drop at once, no longer clinging to the stem. The ripe seed simply lets itself go.

7. 在處有之, 但樹老乃有子, 故難得.

   재처유지, 단수노내유자, 고난득.

   The shrub grows everywhere, yet only old trees bear fruit, so the medicinal seed is hard to come by. Common in sight, rare in hand.

8. 其實片片相比如翹, 故以爲名. 《本草》

   기실편편상비여교, 고이위명. 《본초》

   Its seeds align in paired flakes resembling raised feathers, and from this likeness comes the name yeon-gyo, meaning lifted plumes. So records the Bencao.

9. 手足少陽ㆍ陽明經藥也.

   수족소양ㆍ양명경약야.

   It is a remedy that enters the Shaoyang and Yangming channels of both hands and feet. It works along the body's lateral and frontal meridians to disperse heat.

10. 入手少陰經.

    입수소음경.

    It also enters the Hand Shaoyin channel, which is the pathway of the heart. This is why it can reach the heat congealed within the chest.

11. 去瓤用之.

    거양용지.

    The inner kernel is removed and only the outer husk is used. Selecting the right part is what brings out the herb's true virtue.

12. 瘡瘻癰腫, 不可缺也. 《入門》

    창루옹종, 불가결야. 《입문》

    For sores, fistulas, and abscess swellings it is an indispensable remedy. In conditions that fester and ooze, this herb is never to be left out. So notes the Ru-men.