白蒿 흰쑥 (백호)

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

1. 性平, 味甘, 無毒.

   성평, 미감, 무독.

   Its nature is neutral, its taste sweet, and it has no toxicity, making it a gentle herb that suits any constitution.

2. 主五藏邪氣, 風寒濕痺.

   주오장사기, 풍한습비.

   It dispels pathogenic energy lodged in the five viscera and relieves numbness and paralysis caused by wind, cold, and dampness.

3. 療心懸少食常飢.

   요심현소식상기.

   It treats a hollow, dangling sensation in the chest and the curious symptom of eating little yet constantly feeling hungry.

4. 白蒿, 蓬蒿也.

   백호, 봉호야.

   White mugwort is what we commonly call bonghoh, the bushy mugwort—two names for the same plant.

5. 所在皆有.

   소재개유.

   It grows everywhere—along fields, paths, and roadsides—so it is never hard to find.

6. 春初最先諸草而生, 上有白毛錯澁, 頗似細艾.

   춘초최선제초이생, 상유백모착삽, 파사세애.

   It is the very first of all herbs to sprout in early spring, with rough white down on its leaves that closely resembles fine mugwort.

7. 二月採, 自春及秋, 香美可食.

   이월채, 자춘급추, 향미가식.

   It is harvested in the second month, and from spring through autumn its fragrance and flavor make it a fine edible green.

8. 醋淹爲菹, 甚益人. 《本草》

   초엄위저, 심익인. 《본초》

   Pickled in vinegar as a relish, it is highly beneficial to the body—a humble spring green that doubles as a tonic. From the Bencao.