Eggplant
Eggplant (가지, 茄子) is recorded in the Donguibogam as a heat-clearing food herb. Its nature is cold and its taste sweet, associated with the Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine meridians. Traditional uses recorded in the text include regulates cold-heat imbalance, relieves general taxation of the viscera. Caution: The Donguibogam notes eggplant can stir up qi stagnation and trigger chronic conditions if eaten in excess; best used as an occasional vegetable rather than a daily medicinal.
Overview
Eggplant is a staple side-dish vegetable in Korea, and the Donguibogam records its use for cold-heat imbalance and a striking classical concern — "corpse-transmission taxation qi," an old term for chronic wasting illness thought to spread within a household.
In the Donguibogam
寶鑑
Traditional uses recorded in the Donguibogam
- Regulates cold-heat imbalance
- Relieves general taxation of the viscera
Traditional applications recorded in the classical text
- Cold-heat pattern discomfort
- General fatigue-related taxation (classical use)
Traditional preparation
Cooked before eating (grilled, steamed, stir-fried); the root and dried stem/leaf are separately noted for external use on frostbite sores.
This describes traditional preparation recorded in the classics, not a recommendation for use today. DonguiHub does not provide dosage guidance — consult a qualified professional before using any herb.
Cautions
Frequently asked questions
What is "corpse-transmission taxation qi" mentioned for eggplant?
It is a classical term for a chronic wasting illness once believed to spread within a household — an old diagnostic concept rather than a modern medical condition, listed among eggplant's traditional uses.
Did the Donguibogam mention a Korean variety of eggplant?
Yes — it notes a variety from Korea (Silla) with a pale, slightly purple color and sweet taste, adding that it had spread throughout China but was considered of little medicinal benefit.
Sources
- 『동의보감』 탕액편, 허준, 1613 (원문) — 한문 원문
- 한의학고전DB (mediclassics.kr) — 원문 및 국역 자료 참조