覆盆子 Korean Black Raspberry

Original, read line by line 東醫寶鑑 · Tangaek — Decoctions vol. 2

1. 性平一云微熱, 味甘酸, 無毒. 療男子腎精虛竭, 女人無子.

   Its nature is neutral, though one account calls it slightly hot; its taste is sweet and sour, and it is non-toxic. It treats a man's sinjeong (腎精, kidney essence) grown depleted and dry, and a woman's childlessness.

   HomiclubBokbunja is the dark red fruit of a bramble in the rose family. It is best known today as bokbunja wine and jam, and is grown mainly around Gochang and Jeongeup.

2. 主丈夫陰痿, 能令堅長. 補肝明目, 益氣輕身, 令髮不白.

   It addresses a man's eumwi (陰痿, impotence) and can make him firm and long. It supplements the liver, brightens the eyes, augments qi, lightens the body, and keeps the hair from turning white.

3. 五月採, 處處有之. 收時, 五六分熟, 便可採, 烈日中暴乾. 用時, 去皮蔕, 酒蒸用之.

   It is gathered in the fifth month and is found everywhere. At harvest it may be picked once it is fifty or sixty percent ripe, then dried under a fierce sun. For use, the skin and calyx are removed and it is steamed with liquor.

   HomiclubThe instruction to pick the fruit before it ripens is where medicinal bokbunja parts ways with the table fruit. Fruit for eating is dark red, while the material dried for medicine is picked while still greenish.

4. 益腎精, 止小便利, 當覆其尿器, 故如此取名. 《本草》

   It augments kidney essence and stops frequent urination, so that one may well overturn the chamber pot; that is how the name was taken. 《Boncho (本草)》