大戟 버들옷 (대극)

Original, read line by line 東醫寶鑑 · Tangaek — Decoctions vol. 3

1. 性寒, 味苦甘, 有小毒.

   Its nature is cold, the taste is bitter and slightly sweet, and it carries a mild toxicity, so classical physicians handled it with care.

2. 主蠱毒, 十二水腫滿.

   It treats gu-poisoning and the twelve kinds of dropsy that swell the abdomen, covering a wide range of fluid-retention disorders.

3. 利大小腸, 瀉毒藥, 泄天行黃疸, 溫瘧, 破癥結, 墮胎.

   It opens both intestines, drains toxins, relieves epidemic jaundice and warm-malaria, and breaks up abdominal masses; because it can induce miscarriage, it is strictly forbidden during pregnancy.

4. 澤漆根也. 秋冬採根, 陰乾. 《本草》

   It is the root of taekchil (Euphorbia), gathered in autumn and winter and dried in the shade so that its medicinal properties remain intact.

5. 春生紅芽, 故方用多云紅芽大戟.

   Because it sprouts red shoots in spring, prescriptions often call it hong-a daegeuk, the red-budded daegeuk, and the red shoot served as a mark of authenticity.

6. 與甘遂同爲泄水之藥, 細剉, 蒸或微炒. 《入門》

   Together with gamsu (Kansui root), it expels water from the body; it is finely cut and then steamed or lightly roasted to soften its toxicity before use.

7. 澤漆

   A note on taekchil follows: it is another part of the same plant, corresponding to the leaves and stem used as medicine.

8. 主浮腫, 利大小腸, 止瘧.

   It treats edema, opens both intestines, and stops malarial fevers, working more gently than the root so it can be used in milder applications.

9. 此大戟苗也. 四五月採. 《本草》

   This is the young shoot of daegeuk, gathered in the fourth or fifth lunar month when the leaves are at their fullest in late spring.