白薇 백미 (백미)

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

1. 性平一云寒, 味苦醎, 無毒.

   Its nature is neutral, though some say cold. The taste is bitter and salty, and it carries no toxicity.

2. 治百邪鬼魅, 忽忽睡不知人, 狂惑邪氣, 寒熱溫瘧.

   It treats afflictions from various malign influences that leave a person dazed, sleeping without recognizing others, as well as deranging pathogenic qi and the alternating chills and fevers of warm-type malaria. In modern terms, it was used to settle clouded consciousness and intermittent fevers.

3. 生原野, 莖葉俱靑, 頗類柳葉, 根黃白色, 類牛膝而短小.

   It grows in open fields, with stem and leaves both green and rather resembling willow leaves. The root is yellowish white, similar to achyranthes but shorter and smaller.

4. 三月三日採根, 陰乾, 米泔浸去鬚, 蒸用. 《本草》

   The root is gathered on the third day of the third month, dried in the shade, then soaked in rice-washing water to remove the fine rootlets and steamed before use. The rice-water soak is an old method to soften its harsher qualities. From Bencao.