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Sichuan Pepper Fruit

초피나무 (蜀椒) · Zanthoxylum piperitum (L.) DC.
Interior-warming, anti-parasitic herb Hot Pungent Spleen, Stomach, Kidney
NatureHot
TastePungent
MeridiansSpleen, Stomach, Kidney
Part usedFruit husk
FamilyRutaceae
CategoryInterior-warming, anti-parasitic herb
Find by concern: ToothacheJoint painCold stomach

Overview

Sichuan pepper's fruit is still familiar in Korean cooking as chopi, the tingling spice used in certain regional dishes, but the Donguibogam records it as a medicine with real toxicity and a stark warning attached: any fruit found with its seams still sealed shut must be discarded, as the text states plainly that using it "kills people."

In the Donguibogam

東醫
寶鑑
性熱, 味辛, 有毒一云小毒. 溫中. 主皮膚死肌, 寒濕痺痛. 除六府寒冷, 鬼疰蠱毒, 殺蟲魚毒. 除齒痛, 壯陽, 止陰汗, 煖腰膝, 縮小便, 下氣.
Source: Donguibogam, Tangaek-pyeon (Herbology volume)
TranslationIts nature is hot, its taste pungent, and it has toxicity (some say mild toxicity). It warms the center. It mainly treats numb, dead-feeling skin, and cold-damp painful obstruction. It removes cold from the six bowels, malign possession and gu-toxin, and counters parasite and fish toxicity. It removes toothache, strengthens yang, stops genital sweating, warms the lower back and knees, reduces urination, and brings down qi.

Traditional functions

  • Warms the middle, dispels cold
  • Kills parasites
  • Relieves pain
  • Dries dampness

Traditional applications

  • Cold-damp joint or limb pain with numbness
  • Toothache
  • Cold-type abdominal pain
  • Parasitic conditions (traditional use)

Traditional preparation

Decoction 2–6g of properly sorted, prepared fruit only. Not for self-medication.

Cautions

Caution: Recorded in the Donguibogam as toxic (有毒), with an explicit warning that any fruit whose seams remain sealed shut is dangerous and must never be used — the text states plainly that using it can kill. Requires careful sorting and preparation. Not for self-medication; use only under professional guidance.

Frequently asked questions

Is chopi (Sichuan pepper) dangerous to use in cooking?

Culinary chopi as commonly sold and used is a food spice, not the medicinal preparation described here. The Donguibogam's warning concerns fruit whose seams remain sealed shut — a specific sign of improperly processed or unripe fruit — which it says must always be discarded.

What exactly does the Donguibogam warn about this herb?

It states explicitly that fruit found with its seams still closed (合口者) is dangerous, warning in the text itself that using it "kills people" — one of the most direct toxicity warnings recorded in the entire Tangaek-pyeon volume.

Sources

  • 동의보감 탕액편 (원문) — 한문 원문 발췌 — 한의학고전DB 탕액편 대조 검증 완료 (DATA-001)
  • 한의학고전DB (mediclassics.kr) — 국역 참조 후 자체 재서술 (LEGAL-001)
DonguiHub is an educational and informational platform about the history and tradition of Korean medicine. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about health conditions and before using any herb.