Studies of Name and Herbal Origins of Ha-Soo-Oh

하수오(何首烏)와 백하수오(白何首烏)의 기원과 명칭에 대한 연구

Polygoni multiflori Radix has been used as a tonic medicine. In Korea, Cynanchi wilfordii Radix have been used too. Their names are resembled, but their plant origines are different. Polygoni multiflori Radix is called 何首烏 or 赤何首烏, and Cynanchi wilfordii Radix is 白何首烏 or 白首烏. They are suggested that they had been confused using at the early days in drug history. Polygoni multiflori Radix is enclosed in the pharmacopoeias of Korea, North Korea, Chinese and Japan. The nomina of pharmacopoeias are 赤何首烏 at North Korea and 何首烏 at other countries; Korea, Chinese and Japan. Cynanchi wilfordii Radix is just enclosed in Korea and North Korea. It means that Cynanchi wilfordii Radix has been commonly prescribed in Korea and North Korea than other countries. The nomina of pharmacopoeias are 白首烏 in Korea and 白何首烏 in North Korea. The characteristics of 何首烏 in ancient herbal records are confused of Polygoni multiflori Radix and Cynanchi wilfordii Radix. But Polygoni multiflori Radix is fixed at 何首烏 later. In Korea (south and north) Cynanchi wilfordii Radix has been recorded to using in 東醫寶鑑 that was Korea traditional Medicinal book and wrote at 1613. The 白首烏 is named in chinese about 20 century, but 白何首烏 is in korea about 19 century. In these consequences, prescription of Cynanchi wilfordii Radix in Korea is earlier than Chinese and Japan, and more common consumption too. So the nomen of 白何首烏 is better properly than 白首烏 in Korean Herbal pharmacopoeia.