鱧腸 한련초 (예장)

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

1. 性平, 味甘酸, 無毒.

   Its nature is neutral, the taste sweet and sour, and it carries no toxicity. Being neither cooling nor warming, it suits most constitutions.

2. 主血痢, 鍼灸瘡發, 洪血不可止者.

   It treats bloody dysentery and wounds from acupuncture or moxibustion where bleeding will not stop. It was widely used to staunch hemorrhage.

3. 長鬚髮, 付一切瘡.

   It promotes the growth of beard and hair, and is applied to all kinds of sores. It was especially renowned for darkening and lengthening the hair.

4. 處處有之, 卽蓮子草也.

   It grows everywhere, and is the plant called yeonjacho (lotus-seed grass). One easily finds it along fields and paddy edges.

5. 俗謂之旱蓮子.

   Folk tradition calls it hallyeonja, the dry-land lotus. The name reflects how well it thrives even on dry ground.

6. 三月八月採, 陰乾.

   It is gathered in the third and eighth months and dried in the shade. Shade-drying preserves the medicinal potency that direct sun would dissipate.

7. 實若小蓮房.

   Its fruit resembles a small lotus seed-pod. This very likeness gave rise to its name as the lotus-seed grass.

8. 摘其苗皆有汁出, 須臾而黑.

   When the shoots are plucked, sap exudes that turns black within moments. This blackening juice is the very signature of the herb and a clue to its action.

9. 故多入烏鬚髮藥. 《本草》

   For this reason it is frequently added to medicines that blacken beard and hair. So records the Bencao.