黃蘗 황벽나무 껍질 (황벽)

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

1. 性寒, 味苦, 無毒.

   Its nature is cold, its taste bitter, and it is non-toxic. Its cooling property helps clear heat from the body.

2. 主五藏腸胃中結熱, 黃疸, 腸痔.

   It resolves heat stagnated in the five viscera, stomach, and intestines, and treats jaundice and hemorrhoids. It is widely used for conditions caused by trapped internal heat.

3. 療泄痢, 女子漏下赤白, 陰蝕瘡.

   It stops diarrhea and dysentery, and heals red-and-white vaginal discharge in women as well as ulcerative sores in the genital area. It is particularly effective at draining downward damp-heat.

4. 殺疳蟲, 疥癬, 治目熱赤痛, 口瘡, 除骨蒸勞熱.

   It kills parasitic worms, treats scabies and ringworm, redness and pain of the eyes, mouth sores, and clears steaming bone heat from deficiency. Its versatility lies in clearing heat-toxins both inside and out.

5. 生山中, 處處有之.

   It grows in the mountains and is found in many places. It is a tree commonly encountered in Korean mountain regions as well.

6. 五月六月採皮, 去皺麄, 暴乾. 《本草》

   In the fifth and sixth months, peel the bark, scrape off the wrinkled coarse outer layer, and sun-dry it. This is the basic processing method recorded in the Bencao.

7. 俗名黃柏, 鮮黃色厚者佳.

   It is commonly called Hwangbaek, and pieces of bright yellow color and good thickness are considered superior. Deeper color was regarded as a sign of fuller medicinal potency.

8. 足少陰ㆍ手厥陰本經藥, 足太陽引經藥也.

   It is a primary herb for the Foot Shaoyin Kidney and Hand Jueyin Pericardium channels, and also serves as a guiding herb into the Foot Taiyang Bladder channel. It is known for precisely reaching its target along the meridians.

9. 又瀉膀胱火, 亦治龍火, 有瀉火補陰之功. 《丹心》

   It also drains fire from the Bladder and quells the surging dragon fire from the Kidney, possessing the merit of clearing fire while nourishing yin. This insight is summarized in the Danxi Xinfa.

10. 銅刀削去麄皮, 蜜水浸半日, 取出灸乾用.

    Shave off the coarse outer bark with a copper knife, soak it in honey water for half a day, then take it out, roast, and dry before use. Iron blades are avoided, and honey is used for a gentler preparation.

11. 又云, 入下部鹽酒炒, 火盛者, 童便浸蒸. 《入門》

    It is also said that to direct it to the lower body, stir-fry it with salted wine, and when fire is excessive, steep and steam it in child's urine. These site-specific processing methods are recorded in the Yixue Rumen.

12. 銅刀切片, 蜜炒ㆍ酒炒ㆍ人乳汁炒ㆍ童便炒, 或生用, 大治陰虛. 《回春》

    Slice it thinly with a copper knife and stir-fry with honey, wine, human milk, or child's urine, or use it raw, as it powerfully treats yin deficiency. The Wanbing Huichun is notable for distinguishing effects through varied processing methods.

13. 根

    This entry concerns the root of the Amur cork tree. Its uses differ from those of the bark.

14. 名檀桓. 主心腹百病.

    It is called Tanhuan, and it treats a hundred ailments of the chest and abdomen. It was widely used for various deep-seated disorders of the torso.

15. 久服, 輕身延年. 《本草》

    Long-term use is said to lighten the body and prolong life. This reflects the life-nourishing aspect recorded in the Bencao.