Tangaek — Decoctions · Vegetables

苦苣 Chicory

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Geogeo is a bitter-leaved field green, also recorded as yageo or pyeongeo. The chicory sold today belongs to the same daisy-family group, and it stands behind the crop guide's chicory. Cold in nature, the text says, yet fit to be eaten over a long time.

Original, read line by line 東醫寶鑑 · Tangaek — Decoctions vol. 2

  1. 性寒, 味苦.

    Its nature is cold and its taste is bitter.

    HomiclubGogeo is a bitter leaf vegetable of the fields, the same group as the daisy-family plant known today as chicory. Its leaves exude a white latex when torn, and in Europe the root is dug, roasted, and ground.

  2. 輕身少睡, 調十二經脉, 利五藏, 療黃疸.

    It lightens the body, reduces sleep, regulates the twelve gyeongmaek (經脉, channels), benefits the ojang (五藏, five viscera), and treats jaundice.

  3. 苦苣卽野苣也. 一名褊苣. 雖冷, 甚益人, 可久食之. 《本草》

    Gogeo is yageo (野苣, field lettuce). It is also called pyeongeo (褊苣). Though cold, it greatly benefits people and may be eaten over a long time. 《Boncho (本草)》

    HomiclubYageo (野苣) means the geo (苣) of the wild fields, a name that set it apart from the lettuce raised in garden plots.

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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