蜀椒 초피 (촉초)

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

1. 性熱, 味辛, 有毒一云小毒.

   Its nature is hot, taste pungent, and it carries toxicity — though some say only mildly so.

2. 溫中.

   It warms the middle organs.

3. 主皮膚死肌, 寒濕痺痛.

   It chiefly treats necrotic skin tissue and the numb, aching pain caused by cold-damp blockage.

4. 除六府寒冷, 鬼疰蠱毒, 殺蟲魚毒.

   It dispels cold from the six bowels, resolves spirit-infestation and gu poisoning, and neutralizes the toxins of insects and fish.

5. 除齒痛, 壯陽, 止陰汗, 煖腰膝, 縮小便, 下氣.

   It eases toothache, invigorates yang, stops sweating of the genitals, warms the lower back and knees, reduces frequent urination, and drives stagnant qi downward.

6. 在處有之.

   It grows commonly throughout the land.

7. 樹高四五尺, 似茱萸而小, 有鍼刺.

   The tree stands about four to five 척 tall, resembling 수유 but smaller, and is studded with needle-like thorns.

8. 葉堅而滑.

   Its leaves are firm yet smooth to the touch.

9. 四月結子無花, 但生於葉間, 如小豆顆而圓, 皮紫赤色.

   In the fourth month it bears fruit without flowering, the berries set among the leaves like small round red beans, the skin a purplish red.

10. 八月採實, 陰乾, 一名川椒, 一名巴椒, 一名漢椒.

    The fruit is gathered in the eighth month and dried in the shade. It also goes by the names 천초, 파초, and 한초.

11. 蜀椒皮肉厚, 腹裏白, 氣味濃烈.

    촉초 has a thick rind and flesh, a white interior, and a bold, fiery aroma.

12. 凡使須去目及閉口者, 勿用, 合口者殺人.

    Before use, the seed-eyes and the closed-mouth pods must be picked out. Never use the closed-mouth ones — they can kill.

13. 微火熬之, 令汗出, 乃有勢力, 舂之取紅末用. 《本草》

    Roast it gently until it sweats out its oils — only then does its power emerge. Pound it into a red powder for use. (《本草》)

14. 酒拌濕蒸, 入瓮陰乾, 勿見風. 《入門》

    Toss it with wine, steam until moist, then place in a jar to dry in the shade — keep it from the wind. (《入門》)

15. 椒目

    Next, 椒目 — the seeds within the 蜀椒 berry.

16. 性寒, 味苦, 無毒一云小毒.

    Its nature is cold, its taste bitter, and it is non-toxic — though one source says it carries a slight toxicity.

17. 治十二種水氣, 能行水, 利小便.

    It treats the twelve kinds of water disorders, moves accumulated fluid, and promotes urination.

18. 治水蠱. 《本草》

    It also treats water-gu, a condition of swollen abdomen from accumulated fluid. (《本草》)

19. 此藥只行滲道, 不行穀道, 所以下水最速.

    This drug travels only through the fluid channels, not the food channel — which is why it drains water most swiftly.

20. 微炒用之. 《入門》

    Lightly stir-fry it before use. (《入門》)

21. 椒葉

    Next, the leaves of 蜀椒.

22. 性熱.

    Their nature is hot.

23. 治奔豚伏梁氣, 及內外腎釣痛, 幷霍亂轉筋.

    They treat 奔豚 and 伏梁 qi disorders, the pulling pain of inner and outer kidneys, and the muscle cramps of sudden cholera.

24. 蒸熨之. 《本草》

    Steam the leaves and apply them as a hot compress. (《本草》)

25. 秦椒 분디여름 又云되

    Finally, 秦椒 — known in old Korean as 분디 berry, also called 되.

26. 性溫, 味辛一云苦, 有毒.

    Its nature is warm and its taste pungent — though one source calls it bitter — and it carries toxicity.

27. 主大風㿏痺.

    It chiefly treats severe wind disorders and the numbing paralysis known as 㿏痺.

28. 堅齒髮, 明目, 療腹中冷痛, 止痢.

    It firms the teeth and hair, brightens the eyes, soothes cold abdominal pain, and stops dysentery.

29. 秦地所出者, 故言秦椒.

    Because it comes from the land of Qin (秦), it is called 秦椒.

30. 樹葉及莖子, 都似蜀椒, 但味短實細色黃黑.

    Its tree, leaves, stems, and seeds all resemble 蜀椒, but its flavor is shorter, its fruit slimmer, and its color a yellow-black.

31. 八九月採. 《本草》

    It is gathered in the eighth or ninth month. (《本草》)

32. 出四川, 謂之蜀椒ㆍ川椒, 出關陝, 謂之秦椒. 《入門》

    What comes from Sichuan is called 蜀椒 or 川椒; what comes from Guan-Shaan is called 秦椒. (《入門》)