Homiclub

Tangaek — Decoctions · Herbs

羊躑躅 Yangcheokchok (양척촉)

Yangcheokchok is the flower of the azalea that colours Korean hillsides in spring. The name means a sheep hesitating: sheep that grazed on it staggered and died. The Donguibogam marks it as strongly poisonous, so it is not something to eat.

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

  1. 性溫, 味辛, 有大毒.

    Its nature is warm, its taste pungent, and it carries great toxicity.

  2. 主溫瘧鬼疰蠱毒.

    It governs warm malaria (onhak), ghost infixation (gwiju) and gu toxin (godok).

  3. 卽今躑躅花也.

    This is simply what is now called cheokchok-hwa (躑躅花).

    HomiclubThis is the shrub known today as cheoljjuk (Korean azalea, Rhododendron schlippenbachii and its kin); the Korean name grew out of the Chinese word cheokchok. It is toxic and is not eaten.

  4. 羊誤食躑躅而死, 故以爲名.

    Sheep that eat cheokchok by mistake die, and from this the name was taken.

  5. 三四月採, 乾. 《本草》

    It is gathered in the third or fourth month and dried. 《Boncho》

Herbs — more entries

See all in this section →

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