Dittany Root Bark

백선 (白鮮) · Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz.

Heat-clearing, dampness-drying herb Cold Bitter, salty Spleen, Stomach, Bladder

NatureCold

TasteBitter, salty

MeridiansSpleen, Stomach, Bladder

Part usedRoot bark

FamilyRutaceae

CategoryHeat-clearing, dampness-drying herb

Find by concern: Itching Joint pain

Overview

Dittany root bark's Korean folk name literally translates to "white goat-smell," a nickname the Donguibogam explains directly: the root's scent was said to resemble a goat's, which locals turned into its common name even as physicians relied on it for damp, itchy skin conditions and stubborn jaundice.

In the Donguibogam

東醫
寶鑑

性寒, 味苦醎, 無毒. 治一切熱毒風, 惡風, 風瘡, 疥癬赤爛, 眉髮脫, 皮肌急. 解熱黃, 酒黃, 急黃, 穀黃, 勞黃. 主一切風痺, 筋骨弱乏, 不可屈伸.

Source: Donguibogam, Tangaek-pyeon (Herbology volume)

TranslationIts nature is cold, its taste bitter and salty, and it is non-toxic. It treats all manner of heat-toxin wind, malign wind, wind sores, red and oozing scabies, loss of eyebrows and hair, and tightness of skin and flesh. It resolves heat jaundice, alcohol jaundice, acute jaundice, grain jaundice, and taxation jaundice. It mainly treats all manner of wind painful obstruction, weak sinews and bones, and inability to bend or stretch.

Traditional functions

Clears heat-toxin
Dries dampness, stops itching
Resolves jaundice
Relieves wind-damp joint pain

Traditional applications

Damp, itchy, oozing skin conditions
Jaundice
Wind-damp joint pain with stiffness
Sores and scabies

Traditional preparation

Decoction 4–12g.

Cautions

Caution: Cold and drying; not suited to cold-deficiency conditions. Consult a professional.

Frequently asked questions

Why is dittany's Korean name related to a goat smell?

The Donguibogam explains this directly: the root's scent was said to resemble a goat's, which is how it earned its common folk name, distinct from its formal medicinal name.

What is dittany root bark's main traditional use?

Damp, itchy, oozing skin conditions and jaundice — the Donguibogam lists several named types of jaundice it was used to resolve, alongside wind-damp joint stiffness.

Sources

동의보감 탕액편 (원문) — 한문 원문 발췌 — 한의학고전DB 탕액편 대조 검증 완료 (DATA-001)
한의학고전DB (mediclassics.kr) — 국역 참조 후 자체 재서술 (LEGAL-001)

DonguiHub is an educational and informational platform about the history and tradition of Korean medicine. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about health conditions and before using any herb.