• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Objectives : This study aimed to convert into weight the dosages of flower of Daphne canescens and leaf of Phyllostachys nigra var. henonsis, whose daily dosages are likened to an object in 《Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases》. This study also aimed to understand their implications along with the previously studied gypsium and rhubarb. Methods : After reviewing documents, the dosages were converted into weight, confirmed by experiment, and their implications were considered. Results : A chicken-egg-volume of flowers of Daphne canescens is one Ryang(6.5 g) and two handfuls of leaves of Phyllostachys nigra var. henonsis is four Ryang(13 g). Each item was only used once in a decoction. Their dosages were expressed in weight respectively in 《Supplement to the Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold》 and 《Bohenggyuljangbuyongyakbubyo》. Gypsium dosage was expressed in weight except in Daecheongryong-tang as chicken-egg-volume(16 Ryang). To liken a dosage to an object is an exception, as in the three cases above; for precision and convenience it is recommended that dosages be expressed in weight, in which case all three items fell into one of eight categories from one Ryang to 16 Ryang. Rhubarb was measured in weight, but only when using the 12-hour leaching method, four Ryang of rhubarb was cut into of 5-6 wide-go-stone-sized pieces and two Ryang into 5-6 go-stone-sized pieces. Conclusions : To liken a dosage to an object is only an exception and lacks precision and convenience; therefore dosages ended up expressed in weight, count, or volume.