Figwort Root (Xuanshen)
Overview
Hyeonsam, "dark ginseng," is described by the Donguibogam as a plant whose seedling leaves look like sesame, with blue-green flowers in the seventh month and black seeds in the eighth. What sets it apart is the root: long and pointed, blue-white when fresh and purple-black when dried, with fresh ones soft and greasy. A cited line gives it a distinctive role: for "qi that wafts uselessly in a deficient interior" and "fire without a root," it is the sacred medicine, and it is called the monarch herb of the foot Shaoyin kidney channel.
In the Donguibogam
寶鑑
Traditional uses recorded in the Donguibogam
- Clears heat-toxin
- Disperses swellings and lumps
- Supplements kidney qi
- Brightens the eyes
Traditional applications recorded in the classical text
- Swollen throat and glands from heat (classical)
- Afternoon heat from deficiency
- Red, tired eyes (classical)
Traditional preparation
Root harvested in the 3rd–4th and 8th–9th lunar months and sun-dried, or steamed then dried; wine-steaming is also noted.
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
Why is it called "dark ginseng"?
Because the dried root turns purple-black; the fresh root is blue-white and the text describes dried roots as dark.
What does "fire without a root" mean?
A cited line uses it for heat that floats up from a deficient interior, for which the text calls this herb the "sacred medicine."
Is Korean xuanshen the genuine plant?
The entry says Korea produced it only in Gyeongsang Province, and adds "it is unknown whether it is genuine" — a classical note of doubt about identity.
Sources
- 『동의보감』 탕액편, 허준, 1613 (원문) — 한문 원문
- 한의학고전DB (mediclassics.kr) — 원문 및 국역 자료 참조