苦茶 작설차 (고차)

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

1. 性微寒一云冷, 味甘苦, 無毒.

   Slightly cold in nature (some say cold), sweet and bitter in taste, and non-toxic.

2. 下氣, 消宿食, 淸頭目, 利小便, 止消渴, 令人少睡.

   It drives down qi, digests stagnant food, clears the head and eyes, promotes urination, relieves wasting-thirst, and reduces sleep.

3. 又解炙炒毒.

   It also resolves the toxins from roasted and fried foods.

4. 樹小似梔子.

   The tree is small and resembles the gardenia.

5. 冬生葉, 早採爲茶, 晩採爲茗.

   Its leaves emerge in winter; those picked early are called cha, and those picked late are called ming.

6. 其名有五, 一曰茶, 二曰檟, 三曰蔎, 四曰茗, 五曰荈.

   It has five names: cha, jia, she, ming, and chuan.

7. 古人謂其芽, 爲雀舌麥顆, 言其至嫩, 卽臘茶是也.

   The ancients called its buds 'sparrow tongues' or 'barley grains' to describe their extreme tenderness; this is what is known as lacha (winter-picked tea).

8. 採嫩芽搗作餠, 幷得火良.

   The tender buds are picked and pounded into cakes, and they are best when finished over fire.

9. 茗或曰荈, 葉老者也. 《本草》

   What is called ming or chuan refers to the older leaves. From the Bencao.

10. 入手足厥陰經.

    It enters the hand and foot jueyin meridians — that is, the pericardium and liver channels.

11. 飮之宜熱, 冷則聚痰.

    It should be drunk hot; if drunk cold, it causes phlegm to gather.

12. 久服去人脂, 令人瘦. 《入門》

    Long-term consumption removes body fat and makes one lean. From the Yimen.

13. 蒙山茶, 性溫, 治病最好.

    Mengshan tea is warm in nature and best for treating illness.

14. 宜興茶ㆍ陸安茶ㆍ東白山茶ㆍ神華山茶ㆍ龍井茶ㆍ閩臘茶ㆍ蜀苦茶ㆍ寶慶茶ㆍ廬山雲霧茶, 俱以味佳得名.

    Yixing, Lu'an, Dongbaishan, Shenhuashan, Longjing, Minla, Shuku, Baoqing, and Lushan Yunwu teas all gained renown for their excellent flavor.

15. 一人好食燒鵝不輟, 醫者謂其必生內癰, 後卒不病.

    A certain man constantly ate roasted goose, and a physician predicted he would surely develop an internal abscess, yet in the end he never fell ill.

16. 訪知此人, 每夜必啜涼茶一椀, 此其解毒. 《食物》

    Upon inquiry, it was found he drank a bowl of cool tea every night, and this is what resolved the toxin. From the Shiwu Bencao.