胡麻 Sesame

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

1. 性平, 味甘, 無毒.

   Its nature is neutral, its taste sweet, and it is non-toxic.

   HomiclubHoma is the seed of black sesame. The sesame oil and toasted-sesame salt on Korean tables come from this seed; it is an annual of the genus Sesamum, distinct from perilla.

2. 益氣力, 長肌肉, 塡髓腦, 堅筋骨, 潤五藏. 《本草》

   It augments strength, builds flesh, fills the marrow and brain, firms the sinews and bones, and moistens the five jang (五藏, five viscera). 《Boncho (本草)》

3. 補髓塡精, 延年駐色. 《醫鑑》

   It supplements the marrow and fills the jeong (精, essence), extends the years, and holds the complexion in place. 《Uigam (醫鑑)》

4. 患人虛而吸吸, 加胡麻用之. 《序例》

   When a sick person is depleted and short of breath, add homa (胡麻, sesame) and use it. 《Seorye (序例)》

5. 一名巨勝, 一名方莖, 葉名靑蘘.

   It is also called geoseung (巨勝) and banggyeong (方莖), and its leaf is called cheongyang (靑蘘).

6. 本生胡中, 形體類麻, 故曰胡麻. 又八穀之中最爲大勝, 故名巨勝. 《本草》

   It originally grew in the Ho (胡) lands and its form resembles ma (麻, hemp), hence the name homa. Also, among the eight grains it is held the greatest, hence the name geoseung. 《Boncho (本草)》

   HomiclubThe "ho (胡)" in the name marks the western regions, the same syllable attached to walnut (hodu) and pumpkin (hobak) as things that came from outside. Sesame is thought to have originated in Africa and India and to have spread east through Central Asia.

7. 服食則當九蒸九暴, 熬搗餌之. 其性與茯苓相宜, 久服能辟穀不飢. 《本草》

   To take it as food, steam it nine times and sun-dry it nine times, then parch, pound, and eat it. Its nature suits bokryeong (茯苓, poria), and taken long it lets one forgo grain without hunger. 《Boncho (本草)》

8. 胡麻, 巨勝, 諸家之說不一, 止是今黑脂麻, 更無他義. 《衍義》

   Accounts of homa and geoseung differ among the authorities, yet it is simply today's black jima (脂麻, sesame) and nothing else. 《Yeonui (衍義)》

9. 胡麻, 卽胡地黑芝麻耳. 湯淘去浮者, 酒蒸半日, 曬乾, 舂去麄皮, 微炒用之. 《入門》

   Homa is simply the black sesame of the Ho lands. Rinse it in hot water and discard what floats, steam it in wine for half a day, sun-dry it, pound off the coarse husk, and parch it lightly for use. 《Ipmun (入門)》

   HomiclubSkimming off the seeds that float removes hollow, unfilled grains. The same step survives when sesame is washed today and the floating seeds are lifted away.