DonguiHub — The Hub of Donguibogam Knowledge
Home › Herbs › Saposhnikovia Root (Siler)
Illustration

Saposhnikovia Root (Siler)

방풍 (防風) · Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk.
Exterior-releasing, wind-dispelling herb Warm Sweet, pungent Stomach, Spleen, Bladder
NatureWarm
TasteSweet, pungent
MeridiansStomach, Spleen, Bladder
Part usedRoot
FamilyApiaceae
CategoryExterior-releasing, wind-dispelling herb
Find by concern: HeadacheDizzinessJoint painSpontaneous sweating

Overview

The name means "guard against wind," and the Donguibogam gives it a sweeping reputation: it treats "thirty-six kinds of wind," and is called the immortal herb for clearing wind from the upper body. The text adds two stranger rules: the forked head of the root "makes a person go mad" and the forked tail "sets off chronic illness," so both must be cut away. Even the part of the root used mattered — the head clears wind above the waist, the tip wind below it.

In the Donguibogam

東醫
寶鑑
性溫, 味甘辛, 無毒. 治三十六般風, 通利五藏關脉, 風頭眩, 痛風, 赤眼出淚, 周身骨節疼痺. 止盜汗, 安神, 定志.
Source: Donguibogam, Tangaek-pyeon (Herbology volume)
TranslationIts nature is warm, its taste sweet and pungent, and it is non-toxic. It treats the thirty-six kinds of wind, frees the pulses of the five viscera, and treats wind-type head dizziness, painful wind, red eyes with tearing, and aching, numb joints throughout the body. It stops night sweats, calms the spirit, and steadies the will.

Traditional uses recorded in the Donguibogam

  • Expels wind, releases the exterior
  • Relieves wind-type dizziness and aching
  • Stops night sweats
  • Calms the spirit

Traditional applications recorded in the classical text

  • Wind-type dizziness and headache
  • Aching, numb joints
  • Red, tearing eyes
  • Night sweats

Traditional preparation

Root harvested in the 2nd or 10th lunar month and sun-dried; good roots are solid and oily with a head as firm as an earthworm’s. Remove the stalk head and any forked head or tail. Leaf, flower, and seed are each recorded separately.

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 Donguibogam records it as non-toxic but gives an unusual processing warning: the forked head and forked tail of the root were said to cause madness and chronic illness respectively and must be removed. Use only properly prepared material. Consult a professional.
Advertisement

Frequently asked questions

Why was the forked head of the root cut off?

The Donguibogam states that the forked head was believed to make a person go mad and the forked tail to set off chronic illness, so classical preparation removed both along with the stalk head.

Did different parts of the root do different things?

Yes — the text says the head clears wind-evil from above the waist and the tip clears it from below, a distinction still used when specifying parts.

Why is it called the "immortal herb" for upper-body wind?

A cited source praises it as the "immortal medicine" for expelling wind from the upper burner; it reflects how central the herb was to wind patterns affecting the head and upper body.

Sources