柳花 버들개지 (유화)

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

1. 性寒, 味苦, 無毒.

   Its nature is cold, its taste bitter, and it carries no toxicity, giving it the basic profile of a cooling, damp-clearing herb.

2. 主風水, 黃疸, 面熱黑, 痂疥, 惡瘡, 金瘡.

   It treats wind-water edema and jaundice, calms heat-darkened complexions, and soothes scabs, mange, stubborn sores, and metal-inflicted wounds, making it a broad remedy for skin and injury.

3. 止血, 治濕痺.

   It stops bleeding and relieves damp-induced numbness and joint stiffness, addressing both hemorrhage and damp arthralgia.

4. 柳花, 卽初發時黃蘂也.

   Liuhua refers to the yellow stamens of the willow flower as it first opens — the early-spring bloom is what is used medicinally.

5. 及其花乾, 絮方出, 謂之柳絮, 收之貼灸瘡及爲裀褥.

   Once the flowers dry, the fluffy down emerges — this is called liuxu, willow catkin — gathered to dress moxibustion sores and to stuff mattresses and cushions.

6. 子乃飛絮, 絮之下連小黑子.

   The seeds ride on the airborne down, with tiny black grains hanging beneath the fluff — those specks we notice drifting on spring winds.

7. 因風而起, 其子極細, 入池塘化爲浮萍. 《本草》

   Lifted by the wind, the extremely fine seeds were said to transform into duckweed once they fall into ponds — the old view that drifting catkins become floating greenery. (Bencao)

8. 楊與柳不相似.

   The yang willow and the liu willow do not resemble each other — though grouped together, their forms are clearly distinct.

9. 楊葉圓闊而赤, 枝條短硬.

   The yang willow has round, broad, reddish leaves with short, stiff branches — a sturdy, compact tree overall.

10. 柳葉狹長靑綠, 枝條長軟. 《本草》

    The liu willow has narrow, long, green leaves with long, supple branches — the familiar drooping willow we picture. (Bencao)

11. 枝

    The branches — what follows describes the medicinal use of the willow twigs.

12. 主齒痛, 風熱腫痒.

    It treats toothache and the swelling and itching caused by wind-heat — useful when gums burn, swell, and ache.

13. 可作浴湯, 膏藥.

    It can be decocted for medicinal baths or rendered into salves — its strength lies more in external bathing and plastering than internal use.

14. 牙齒病爲最要之藥. 《本草》

    For dental ailments it is regarded as the single most essential remedy — old physicians turned to willow twigs first for tooth troubles. (Bencao)

15. 木中蟲屑

    The wood-dust left by insects boring inside the willow — the fine debris the bugs leave behind is taken as medicine.

16. 主風瘙痒癮疹. 《本草》

    It treats wind-induced itching and hives — a humble remedy for sudden rashes and unexplained itching. (Bencao)

17. 葉

    The leaves — what follows opens the section on willow foliage.