韭 부추 (구)

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

1. 性溫一云熱, 味辛微酸, 無毒.

   Chives are warm in nature (some sources say hot), pungent and slightly sour in flavor, and non-toxic. In traditional medicine, an herb's thermal nature and flavor indicate how it acts in the body.

2. 歸心.

   It enters the Heart channel, meaning its energy is understood to act mainly on the heart system.

3. 安五藏, 除胃中熱, 補虛乏, 煖腰膝, 除胸中痺. 《本草》

   It calms the five viscera, clears heat from the stomach, tonifies weakness, warms the lower back and knees, and relieves painful obstruction (bi syndrome) in the chest. Source: the Bencao (Materia Medica).

4. 韭能去胸中惡血滯氣, 又能充肝氣. 《丹心》

   Chives remove stagnant blood and blocked qi from the chest, and also replenish liver qi. Source: the Danxin (school of Zhu Danxi).

5. 處處有之, 一種而久者, 故謂之韭.

   It grows everywhere, and because a single planting lasts for years it is called gu (韭) — a name explained through the homophone gu (久), meaning long-lasting.

6. 圃人種蒔, 一歲而三四割之, 其根不傷, 至冬壅培, 先春而復生, 信乎一種而久者也.

   Gardeners cut it three or four times a year without harming the roots; banked with soil in winter, it regrows in early spring — proof, the text marvels, that one planting truly lasts for years.

7. 菜中此物最溫而益人, 宜常食之.

   Among vegetables, chives are the warmest in nature and the most beneficial to people, so the text recommends eating them regularly.

8. 此物殊辛臭, 最是養性所忌.

   However, its especially pungent smell makes it the food most avoided by those cultivating the spirit — the reason it is counted among the five pungent vegetables shunned in Buddhist and Daoist practice.

9. 取汁服, 或作葅食, 幷佳. 《本草》

   Drinking the fresh juice or eating it pickled like kimchi are both fine ways to take it. Source: the Bencao.

10. 子

    The following section concerns chive seeds, known as guja (韭子).

11. 性煖. 主夢泄精尿白.

    The seeds are warm in nature and chiefly treat nocturnal emission and cloudy, whitish urine.

12. 煖腰膝, 壯陽道, 療精滑, 甚良.

    They warm the lower back and knees, strengthen male potency, and are excellent for treating involuntary seminal leakage.

13. 入藥, 微炒用之. 《本草》

    For medicinal use, the seeds are lightly stir-fried before use. Source: the Bencao.