Homiclub

Tangaek — Decoctions · Herbs

紫草 Purple gromwell

Related Crop · Purple gromwell →

Jacho is the root of gromwell, which stains the hands purple as it is pulled. It was long the dye that gave cloth its purple, and it still serves as a natural colorant in cosmetics. The Donguibogam says it grows through hills and fields and is dug in the third month and dried in shade.

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

  1. 性寒一云平, 味苦一云甘, 無毒.

    Its nature is cold (some say neutral), its taste bitter (some say sweet), and it is without toxicity.

  2. 主五疸.

    It governs the five kinds of jaundice.

  3. 通水道, 腹腫脹滿.

    It opens the waterways and addresses swelling and distending fullness of the abdomen.

  4. 療惡瘡, 瘑癬, 面皶, 及小兒痘瘡.

    It treats malignant sores, gwaseon (ringworm-like sores), facial pimples, and duchang (smallpox) in children.

  5. 生山野, 處處有之.

    It grows in mountains and fields and is found everywhere.

    HomiclubJichi is a perennial with a thick, straight taproot driving deep into the soil; it grows on sunny grassy mountain slopes.

  6. 卽今染紫紫草也.

    It is the jacho used nowadays to dye purple.

    HomiclubDigging the root stains the hands purple. It has long served as a natural purple dye and is still used in traditional dyeing.

  7. 三月採根, 陰乾, 酒洗用. 《本草》

    In the third month the root is dug, dried in the shade, washed with liquor, and used. 《Boncho (Materia Medica)》

  8. 痘瘡, 須用茸. 《湯液》

    For duchang (smallpox) the young shoots must be used. 《Tangaek》

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This is a cultural and historical record from a classical text, not a claim about any food’s effects. Nothing here is a health supplement or intended to prevent or treat disease. Consult a medical professional about health concerns. · Text: Korean Medicine Classics DB · Reading: Homiclub