葛根 칡 (갈근)

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

1. 性平一云冷, 味甘, 無毒.

   Kudzu root is neutral in nature (some say cool), sweet in taste, and non-toxic.

2. 主風寒頭痛.

   It is used to treat headaches caused by wind-cold exposure.

3. 解肌發表, 出汗開腠理, 解酒毒, 止煩渴, 開胃下食.

   It relaxes the muscles and induces sweating to open the pores, dispels alcohol toxins, quenches feverish thirst, stimulates appetite, and helps food go down.

4. 治胸膈熱, 通小腸, 療金瘡.

   It clears heat in the chest and diaphragm, promotes flow in the small intestine, and heals knife wounds.

5. 生山中, 處處有之.

   It grows in the mountains and is commonly found in many places.

6. 五月五日採根, 暴乾.

   Roots are dug on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month and sun-dried thoroughly.

7. 以入土深者, 爲佳. 《本草》

   Roots that grow deep into the soil are considered the finest. (Bencao)

8. 一名鹿藿. 《本草》

   It is also called luhuo, the deer's bean. (Bencao)

9. 足陽明經行經的藥也.

   Kudzu root is a medicine that travels along the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian.

10. 通行足陽明之經, 生津止渴, 虛渴者, 非此不能除也.

    By coursing through the Foot Yangming Meridian, it generates fluids and quenches thirst; thirst from deficiency cannot be resolved without it.

11. 凡病酒及渴者, 得之甚良.

    For those suffering from hangovers or thirst, this remedy is exceptionally effective.

12. 亦治溫瘧消渴. 《湯液》

    It also treats warm-type malaria and wasting-thirst syndrome (xiaoke). (Tangye)

13. 生根

    Fresh root, used uncured straight from the ground.

14. 破血, 合瘡, 墮胎.

    It breaks up blood stasis and closes sores, yet it can also induce miscarriage, so pregnant women must avoid it.

15. 解酒毒, 身熱, 酒黃, 小便赤澁.

    It dispels alcohol toxins, body heat, alcohol-induced jaundice, and reddish, difficult urination.

16. 生根, 搗取汁飮, 療消渴, 傷寒溫病壯熱. 《本草》

    Pounding the fresh root and drinking its juice treats wasting-thirst and the intense fever of cold-damage and warm diseases. (Bencao)

17. 葛穀

    Gegu, the seed-fruit of the kudzu vine.

18. 主下痢十年已上.

    It treats chronic diarrhea that has persisted for more than ten years.

19. 穀卽是實也. 《本草》

    The word 'grain' here refers to the seed-fruit of the plant. (Bencao)

20. 葉

    Leaf, the green foliage of the kudzu vine.

21. 主金瘡止血.

    It is applied to stop bleeding from knife wounds.

22. 挼碎付之. 《本草》

    Rub the leaves between the palms until shredded, then apply directly to the wound. (Bencao)

23. 花

    Flower, the purple blossoms borne on the kudzu vine.

24. 主消酒毒.

    It is used to dispel the toxins of alcohol.

25. 葛花與小豆花等分, 爲末服, 飮酒不知醉. 《本草》

    Equal parts of kudzu flower and red bean flower ground into powder and taken in advance let one drink without feeling drunk. (Bencao)

26. 粉

    Powder, the starch extracted from the kudzu root.

27. 性大寒, 味甘, 無毒.

    The powder is very cold in nature, sweet in taste, and non-toxic.

28. 止煩渴, 利大小便, 小兒熱痞. 《本草》

    It relieves vexing thirst, eases bowel movements and urination, and treats heat-induced chest fullness in children. (Bencao)

29. 採生葛根, 搗爛浸水中, 揉出粉, 澄成片, 擘塊, 下沸湯中, 以蜜生拌食之, 解酒客渴, 甚妙. 《入門》

    Dig up fresh kudzu root, pound it into pulp, soak it in water and rub out the starch, let it settle into cakes, break off pieces, drop them into boiling water, then mix with raw honey and eat: this remarkably relieves the lingering thirst of habitual drinkers. (Ipmun)