龍膽 Gwanampeul (과남플)

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

1. 性大寒, 味苦, 無毒.

   Its nature is greatly cold, its taste bitter, and it is non-toxic.

   HomiclubYongdam is the root of a perennial in the gentian family that opens bell-shaped blue-violet flowers in autumn. The old Korean name in the heading is gwanampeul, and the flowers can be found in sunny grassland on hills and fields into late autumn.

2. 除胃中伏熱, 時氣溫熱, 熱泄下痢. 益肝膽氣, 止驚惕, 除骨熱, 去腸中小蟲, 明目.

   It removes heat lurking in the wi (胃, stomach), seasonal warm-heat illness, and heat diarrhea and dysentery. It augments the qi of the gan (肝, liver) and dam (膽, gallbladder), stops fright and alarm, removes heat in the bones, expels small worms from the intestines, and brightens the eyes.

3. 根黃白色, 下抽根十餘本, 類牛膝. 味苦如膽, 故俗呼爲草龍膽.

   The root is yellowish-white and sends down more than ten branches, resembling useul (牛膝). Its taste is bitter like gall, and so it is popularly called choryongdam (草龍膽, grass dragon-gall).

   HomiclubThe name says it is as bitter as a dragon's gall, and the bitter compound behind that, gentiopicroside, has since been identified in the root. Roots of related species, known in the West as gentian, are used for their bitterness as a flavoring in drinks and spirits.

4. 二月八月十一月十二月採根, 陰乾. 採得後, 以銅刀切去髭土了, 甘草湯中浸一宿, 暴乾用.

   Dig the roots in the second, eighth, eleventh, and twelfth months and dry them in the shade. After digging, cut away the rootlets and soil with a copper knife, steep them overnight in a licorice decoction, and dry them in the sun for use.

5. 勿空腹餌之, 令人尿不禁. 《本草》

   Do not take it on an empty stomach; it causes a person to be unable to hold urine. 《Boncho (本草)》

6. 治下焦濕熱, 明目涼肝. 《醫鑑》

   It treats damp-heat in the lower burner, brightens the eyes, and cools the gan (肝, liver). 《Uigam (醫鑑)》

7. 治眼疾, 必用之藥也. 酒浸則上行. 虛人酒炒黑用之. 《湯液》

   It is a medicine that must be used in treating eye disorders. Steeped in wine, it travels upward. For a depleted person, stir-fry it with wine until black before use. 《Tangaek (湯液)》