天南星 두여머조자기 (천남성)

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

1. 性平, 味苦辛, 有毒.

   Its nature is neutral, the taste is bitter and pungent, and it carries toxicity.

2. 主中風, 除痰, 利胸膈, 消癰腫, 墮胎.

   It treats stroke, dispels phlegm, eases tightness in the chest, reduces abscesses and swellings, and can induce miscarriage—so it is forbidden in pregnancy.

3. 又療破傷風.

   It is also used to treat tetanus from wounds.

4. 生山野. 二月八月採根.

   It grows in mountains and fields, and the root is dug up in the second and eighth lunar months.

5. 入藥炮用. 《本草》

   When used in medicine, it must first be roasted to temper its toxicity. 《Bencao》

6. 治風痰, 破傷風, 及小兒驚癎.

   It treats wind-phlegm, tetanus, and convulsions and epilepsy in children.

7. 牛膽製者, 尤佳. 《醫鑑》

   The form processed with ox bile, called Dannanxing, is especially excellent. 《Yijian》

8. 臘月置水中, 凍去燥性, 炮裂用,

   In the twelfth lunar month, soak it in water and let it freeze to draw out its drying nature, then roast it until it cracks open before use.

9. 或薑汁白礬煮, 至中心無白點, 亦好. 《丹心》

   Alternatively, boiling it with ginger juice and alum until the white spots in the center disappear is also good—all methods aimed at neutralizing its toxicity. 《Danxin》

10. 鬼臼

    This is the entry on Guijiu (Dysosma), a herb often confused with Jack-in-the-pulpit.

11. 都似天南星, 了不可辨,

    It closely resembles Tiannanxing, and the two are nearly impossible to tell apart.

12. 但南星體小柔膩肌細, 炮之易裂,

    However, Nanxing has a smaller body, a softer and smoother flesh with fine texture, and splits easily when roasted.

13. 鬼臼體大, 差可辨爾. 《本草》

    Guijiu, by contrast, has a larger body, which provides the only reliable way to tell them apart. 《Bencao》

14. 殺蠱毒鬼疰, 辟惡氣. 《本草》

    Guijiu kills parasitic toxins and ghost-infestation diseases, and wards off malignant qi. 《Bencao》