Pomegranate
Overview
The pomegranate in the Donguibogam is a fruit with two faces. The text separates sweet pomegranates, which can be eaten, from sour ones, which go into medicine. It notes that the fruit is picked in the eighth and ninth months, and gives a charming folk detail: Taoist writers called it the "wine of the three corpses," saying the three parasitic spirits become drunk on it. The fruit is also unusual in that its rind, its flower and its root bark each get their own entries with separate uses.
In the Donguibogam
寶鑑
Traditional uses recorded in the Donguibogam
- Relieves dry throat and thirst
- Rind: astringes the intestines, stops leakage
- Flower: used for heart-heat vomiting of blood and nosebleed
Traditional applications recorded in the classical text
- Dry throat and thirst
- Persistent diarrhea (rind, classical use)
- Intestinal parasites (east-running root bark, classical use)
Traditional preparation
The sweet kind is eaten fresh; the sour kind is used medicinally. The rind is lightly roasted, preferably from old trees or aged material. East-running root bark is recorded for expelling roundworm and tapeworm.
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 pomegranate called the "wine of the three corpses"?
The text records a Taoist saying that the three parasitic spirits in the body become drunk when they meet this fruit — a folk image rather than a medical claim.
Is the sweet or sour pomegranate used as medicine?
The text says the sweet kind is eaten and the sour kind goes into medicine.
Why does the text warn against eating a lot?
It says pomegranate harms the lungs and, if eaten much, the teeth.
Sources
- 『동의보감』 탕액편, 허준, 1613 (원문) — 한문 원문
- 한의학고전DB (mediclassics.kr) — 원문 및 국역 자료 참조