Homiclub

Tangaek — Decoctions · Herbs

苘實 Eojeogwissi (어저귀씨)

Gyeongsil is the seed of velvetleaf. The Donguibogam describes leaves like ramie, yellow flowers, and black seed shaped like hollyhock seed. The plant's bast fibre was woven into cloth and twisted into cord and rope, which is why the text also gives it the name baekma, 'white hemp.'

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 has no toxicity.

  2. 主赤白冷熱痢.

    It governs red and white dysentery of both the cold and the hot kind.

  3. 破癰腫.

    It breaks up abscesses and swellings.

  4. 處處有之.

    It is found everywhere.

  5. 葉似苧, 花黃, 實如蜀葵子, 黑色.

    Its leaves resemble ramie, its flowers are yellow, and its seeds are like those of chokgyu (蜀葵, hollyhock) and black in colour.

  6. 卽今人取以績布及及打繩索者. 《本草》

    This is what people today take to weave cloth with and also to twist into cord and rope. 《Boncho》

    HomiclubThe tough fibre stripped from the stem of eojeogwi (Abutilon theophrasti) was made into sacking and rope. Today the plant turns up mostly as a volunteer along field edges and waste ground.

  7. 卽白麻也. 《入門》

    This is baengma (白麻). 《Ipmun》

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This is a cultural and historical record from a classical text, not a claim about any food’s effects. Nothing here is a health supplement or intended to prevent or treat disease. Consult a medical professional about health concerns. · Text: Korean Medicine Classics DB · Reading: Homiclub