Lily Bulb
Lily Bulb (백합, 百合) is recorded in the Donguibogam as a yin-nourishing, spirit-calming herb. Its nature is neutral and its taste sweet (some sources note a mildly toxic variant), associated with the Lung, Heart meridians. Traditional uses recorded in the text include nourishes lung yin, calms the spirit, clears lingering post-illness heat. Caution: The Donguibogam explicitly warns that only the white-flowered, coarse-rooted variety is fit for medicine — a yellow-flowered, black-spotted relative is marked unfit for use.
Overview
Lily bulb is still eaten in Korea as a mild, starchy porridge ingredient (baekhap-juk), and the Donguibogam already distinguishes edible from inedible varieties with care: the white-flowered lily with a coarse root is fit for medicine, while a yellow-flowered, black-spotted relative is explicitly marked unfit for use.
In the Donguibogam
寶鑑
Traditional uses recorded in the Donguibogam
- Nourishes lung yin
- Calms the spirit
- Clears lingering post-illness heat
- Promotes urination
Traditional applications recorded in the classical text
- Restlessness and unsettled mood following illness
- Lingering low-grade discomfort after a fever
- Breast abscess and sores
- Difficulty urinating
Traditional preparation
Also cooked as a mild porridge (baekhap-juk).
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
Are all lily bulbs safe to eat or use medicinally?
No — the Donguibogam is explicit that only the white-flowered, coarse-rooted lily is fit for medicine, while a yellow-flowered variety with black-spotted leaves is specifically marked as unfit for use.
What is "lily disease" (baekhap-byeong)?
A classical syndrome of lingering restlessness and unsettled mood following a feverish illness, named because lily bulb was the signature remedy for it — a use the Donguibogam records directly.
Sources
- 『동의보감』 탕액편, 허준, 1613 (원문) — 한문 원문
- 한의학고전DB (mediclassics.kr) — 원문 및 국역 자료 참조