白薇 Baengmi (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 (some say cold), its taste bitter and salty, and it is non-toxic.

2. 治百邪鬼魅, 忽忽睡不知人, 狂惑邪氣, 寒熱溫瘧.

   It treats the hundred evil influences and gwimae (goblin possession), suddenly falling asleep and not recognizing people, evil qi that maddens and bewitches, and onhak (warm malaria) with chills and fever.

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 country; stalk and leaf are both green and much like willow leaves, and the root is yellowish white, like useul but shorter and smaller.

   HomiclubUseul (牛膝) is the ox-knee plant, named for stem joints that bulge like a cow's knee; the comparison here is to its long slender root. Baengmi itself is a milkweed-family perennial with dark maroon flowers.

4. 三月三日採根, 陰乾, 米泔浸去鬚, 蒸用. 《本草》

   On the third day of the third month the root is dug and dried in the shade, then steeped in rice-rinse water to remove the rootlets, steamed, and used. 《Boncho》

   HomiclubMigam (米泔) is the cloudy water left from rinsing rice. Soaking the root in it loosens the soil and softens the rootlets so they strip off easily.