大薊 항가(엉겅퀴) (대계)

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

1. 性平, 味苦, 無毒.

   Its nature is neutral, its taste bitter, and it carries no toxicity—balanced enough for broad use without leaning hot or cold.

2. 治瘀血, 止吐衄血,

   It disperses stagnant blood while staunching vomiting of blood and nosebleeds—dispelling what is congealed and holding back what leaks.

3. 療癰腫疥癬.

   It treats abscesses, swellings, scabies, and ringworm—skin troubles that arise when internal heat-toxin surfaces.

4. 主女子赤白帶.

   It addresses red and white vaginal discharge in women, working on the blood stasis and damp-heat that settle in the lower body.

5. 養精保血.

   It nourishes essence and safeguards the blood—dispelling stasis without depleting what should be preserved.

6. 處處有之.

   It grows everywhere—an unassuming plant easily found along fields and roadsides.

7. 五月採苗葉, 九月採根, 陰乾. 《本草》

   Gather the shoots and leaves in the fifth month, the roots in the ninth, and dry them in the shade to preserve their gentle potency. 《Bencao》

8. 地丁, 卽大薊也.

   The herb called dìdīng is in fact dàjì, the great thistle—worth noting since old texts use varied names for the same plant.

9. 黃花者, 名黃花地丁, 紫花者, 名紫花地丁, 幷主癰腫. 《正傳》

   The yellow-flowered kind is called huánghuā dìdīng and the purple-flowered kind zǐhuā dìdīng; both treat abscesses and swellings, their healing power steady regardless of bloom color. 《Zhengchuan》

10. 小薊 조방가

    Now we turn to xiǎojì, the lesser thistle—kin to the great thistle yet differing subtly in temperament and use.

11. 性涼, 無毒.

    Its nature is cool and free of toxicity—leaning a step colder than the great thistle, fitting for heat conditions.

12. 治熱毒風,

    It treats wind disorders born of heat-toxin, cooling the fiery poison that drifts through the body like wind.

13. 破宿血, 止新血,

    It breaks up old stagnant blood while halting fresh bleeding—at once dispersing what is stale and restraining what is new.

14. 暴下血, 血崩,

    It addresses sudden lower bleeding and uterine flooding—useful when blood pours forth uncontrollably.

15. 金瘡出血,

    It stops bleeding from cuts inflicted by blades or metal—an emergency herb for wounds caused by sharp implements.

16. 療蜘蛛蛇蝎毒.

    It neutralizes the venom of spiders, snakes, and scorpions—a field antidote against the bites of small creatures.

17. 大小薊, 俱能破血, 但小薊力微, 不能消腫.

    Both the great and lesser thistles break up stagnant blood, yet the lesser is too mild to dissolve abscesses—similar work performed with unequal force.

18. 大小薊皆相似, 但大薊高三四尺, 葉皺,

    The two thistles look much alike, but the great thistle stands three or four feet tall with crinkled leaves—its height and wrinkled foliage marking it out.

19. 小薊高一尺許, 葉不皺.

    The lesser thistle reaches only about a foot, with smooth, unwrinkled leaves—the smaller, sleeker cousin.

20. 以此爲異, 功力有殊.

    These features set them apart, and their potency differs accordingly—form translating directly into function.

21. 大薊破血之外, 亦療癰腫,

    Beyond breaking stasis, the great thistle also treats abscesses and swellings—reaching both inward clots and outward sores.

22. 小薊專主血疾.

    The lesser thistle is devoted solely to blood disorders—a specialist that confines itself to a single field.

23. 一名刺薊. 《本草》

    It is also called cìjì, the thorny thistle—a nickname drawn from the prickles bristling along its stem and leaves. 《Bencao》