天南星 두여머조자기 (천남성)

Original, read line by line 東醫寶鑑 · 탕액편 권3

1. 性平, 味苦辛, 有毒.

   성평, 미고신, 유독.

   Its nature is neutral, the taste is bitter and pungent, and it carries toxicity.

2. 主中風, 除痰, 利胸膈, 消癰腫, 墮胎.

   주중풍, 제담, 이흉격, 소옹종, 타태.

   It treats stroke, dispels phlegm, eases tightness in the chest, reduces abscesses and swellings, and can induce miscarriage—so it is forbidden in pregnancy.

3. 又療破傷風.

   우료파상풍.

   It is also used to treat tetanus from wounds.

4. 生山野. 二月八月採根.

   생산야. 이월팔월채근.

   It grows in mountains and fields, and the root is dug up in the second and eighth lunar months.

5. 入藥炮用. 《本草》

   입약포용. 《본초》

   When used in medicine, it must first be roasted to temper its toxicity. 《Bencao》

6. 治風痰, 破傷風, 及小兒驚癎.

   치풍담, 파상풍, 급소아경간.

   It treats wind-phlegm, tetanus, and convulsions and epilepsy in children.

7. 牛膽製者, 尤佳. 《醫鑑》

   우담제자, 우가. 《의감》

   The form processed with ox bile, called Dannanxing, is especially excellent. 《Yijian》

8. 臘月置水中, 凍去燥性, 炮裂用,

   납월치수중, 동거조성, 포렬용,

   In the twelfth lunar month, soak it in water and let it freeze to draw out its drying nature, then roast it until it cracks open before use.

9. 或薑汁白礬煮, 至中心無白點, 亦好. 《丹心》

   혹강즙백반자, 지중심무백점, 역호. 《단심》

   Alternatively, boiling it with ginger juice and alum until the white spots in the center disappear is also good—all methods aimed at neutralizing its toxicity. 《Danxin》

10. 鬼臼

    귀구

    This is the entry on Guijiu (Dysosma), a herb often confused with Jack-in-the-pulpit.

11. 都似天南星, 了不可辨,

    도사천남성, 요불가변,

    It closely resembles Tiannanxing, and the two are nearly impossible to tell apart.

12. 但南星體小柔膩肌細, 炮之易裂,

    단남성체소유니기세, 포지이렬,

    However, Nanxing has a smaller body, a softer and smoother flesh with fine texture, and splits easily when roasted.

13. 鬼臼體大, 差可辨爾. 《本草》

    귀구체대, 차가변이. 《본초》

    Guijiu, by contrast, has a larger body, which provides the only reliable way to tell them apart. 《Bencao》

14. 殺蠱毒鬼疰, 辟惡氣. 《本草》

    살고독귀주, 벽악기. 《본초》

    Guijiu kills parasitic toxins and ghost-infestation diseases, and wards off malignant qi. 《Bencao》