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Rakkyo (Chinese Scallion)

Rakkyo (Chinese Scallion) (염교, 薤菜) is recorded in the Donguibogam as a interior-warming food herb. Its nature is warm and its taste pungent, bitter, associated with the Not specified in the source text meridians. Traditional uses recorded in the text include regulates the middle, stops long dysentery and cold diarrhea, clears water qi. Caution: The text records no toxicity.

염교 (薤菜) · Allium chinense G.Don

Interior-warming food herb Warm Pungent, bitter Not specified in the source text

NatureWarm

TastePungent, bitter

MeridiansNot specified in the source text

Part usedBulb

FamilyAmaryllidaceae

CategoryInterior-warming food herb

Find by concern: Diarrhea Edema

Overview

Yeomgyo, the rakkyo, is a pungent bulb that the Donguibogam sets apart from the other strong-smelling alliums with an unusual note: although pungent, it "does not make the five viscera gamy" — it is not a hun (葷, pungent forbidden vegetable) — so Taoist adepts ate it often. The text calls it a "vegetable of immortal's herb," records that it is warm and supplementing, and says it regulates the middle, stops long-standing dysentery and cold diarrhea, and "fattens and strengthens people." It adds that it may be eaten in soup or porridge, or blanched into pickles.

In the Donguibogam

東醫
寶鑑

性溫, 味辛苦, 無毒. 調中, 止久痢冷瀉. 除寒熱, 去水氣, 肥健人

Source: Donguibogam, Tangaek-pyeon (Herbology volume)

TranslationIts nature is warm, its taste pungent and bitter, and it is non-toxic. It regulates the middle and stops long-standing dysentery and cold diarrhea. It removes cold and heat, clears water qi, and makes people plump and strong.

Traditional uses recorded in the Donguibogam

Regulates the middle
Stops long dysentery and cold diarrhea
Clears water qi

Traditional applications recorded in the classical text

Eaten in soup or porridge, or blanched into pickles

Traditional preparation

Eaten in soup or porridge, or blanched and made into pickles, per the text.

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

Caution: The text records no toxicity. Eating a food and using it as medicine are different things. Consult a professional for medicinal use.

Frequently asked questions

Why did Taoist adepts eat it?

The text says that although pungent it does not make the five viscera gamy (is not a forbidden pungent vegetable), so ascetics often took it.

How is it eaten?

In soup or porridge, or blanched and made into pickles.

What does "vegetable of the immortal herb" mean?

It is the text's praise: the bulb is warm and supplementing and was valued by those who followed immortal regimens.