蛇含 사함초 (사함)

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

1. 性微寒, 味苦, 無毒.

   Slightly cold in nature, bitter in taste, and non-toxic. Its mild cooling property makes it versatile in use.

2. 主金瘡, 疽痔, 鼠瘻, 惡瘡, 頭瘍.

   It treats metal-blade wounds, abscesses and hemorrhoids, scrofulous fistulae, malignant sores, and head ulcers — a broad remedy for ulcerated skin and mucous lesions.

3. 療蛇蟲蜂虺毒傷, 治風疹癰腫.

   It heals poisonous bites from snakes, insects, bees, and vipers, and resolves wind-rash and swelling abscesses — true to its name, the first herb to recall for venomous bites.

4. 處處有之.

   It grows everywhere. Not a rare herb, but one easily found along fields and roadsides.

5. 當用細葉黃花者, 爲佳.

   Choose the variety with slender leaves and yellow flowers — this is the finest. Similar-looking kinds exist, so leaf shape and flower color are the markers.

6. 八月採葉, 日乾, 勿令犯火.

   Gather the leaves in the eighth lunar month and dry them in the sun, never letting them touch fire — the herb's potency is easily spoiled by heat.

7. 《本草》

   The above is drawn from the Bencao (materia medica) tradition.

8. 昔人見蛇被傷, 一蛇含草着瘡上, 傷蛇乃去,

   Long ago someone watched a wounded snake recover after another snake laid this herb on its sore — a small tale that gave the plant its name.

9. 因用此有效, 故名. 《入門》

   People then tried the herb themselves and found it effective, so it came to be called 'the herb the snake held' (蛇含), as recorded in the Yimun.