Forsythia Fruit
Overview
Yeongyo is the seedpod of forsythia — the shrub whose yellow flowers are among the first signs of spring in Korea — and the Donguibogam describes it with a gardener's eye: leaves like water betony, reddish stems three to four feet tall, lovely yellow flowers, and in autumn pods that "split open in the middle and fall as soon as they dry, not clinging to the stem." It adds that the shrub only fruits when old, so the seed is hard to obtain, and the name "翹" comes from the pod's shape — each half like a raised wing. The recorded role is on sores and swellings: it drains pus and is "indispensable for ulcers and abscesses."
In the Donguibogam
寶鑑
Traditional uses recorded in the Donguibogam
- Drains pus, resolves swelling
- Clears lodged heat in the heart
- Eases urinary difficulty
- Stops pain from sores
Traditional applications recorded in the classical text
- Sores, boils and swollen abscesses
- Swollen glands and neck lumps (classical)
- Urinary difficulty from heat
Traditional preparation
Fruit harvested in autumn; the central pulp (seeds) is removed before use.
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 "raised wing"?
The entry says the name comes from the pod's shape: each half is like a raised wing (翹).
Why is it hard to obtain the fruit?
The text says the shrub only bears seed when it is old, so the fruit was difficult to get.
What does "indispensable for sores" mean?
A cited line says that for ulcers, fistulas and swollen abscesses this herb cannot be left out.
Sources
- 『동의보감』 탕액편, 허준, 1613 (원문) — 한문 원문
- 한의학고전DB (mediclassics.kr) — 원문 및 국역 자료 참조