Traditional Korean medicine: The Asian way of well-being
By Lee Min-young
Yangnyeongsi Herbal Medicine Market
Oriental medicine is always exotic and interesting to those from different cultures. In Seoul, there is a special area where you can smell the stinging aroma of herbs hanging in the air along your way ― the Yangnyeongsi Herbal Medicine Market.
CHOI Young-seop, President of Seoul Yangnyeongsi Association
"Yangnyeongsi market sits on the site of Bojewon, a medical facility set up to help the poor during the Joseon period(1392-1897). The market covers about 300,000 square meters and there are some 1000 traditional medicine businesses in the area. Yangnyeongsi is the nation's great herbal medical asset as well as an important industry that we should promote."
The streets are lined with old shops displaying various herbal remedies such as bark from trees, dried fruits and Korean Ginseng.
Herb clinics, where Oriental medicine doctors give treatments, can be seen most everywhere. These doctors start with feeling the patient's pulse and then treat ailments with acupuncture and cupping.
After the check-up, the doctor prescribes Oriental medicine. The selected herbs will then be brewed into a tea to treat the illness.
Seoul K-Medi Center
CHO Nam-sook, Director of Seoul K-Medi Center
"Our center offers many Korean herbal medicine-related programs such as herbal food cooking classes, herbal medicine foot bath, and healing therapies. Many foreign visitors come to get proper healing to both their body and mind through herbal remedies."
[Reporter Stand-up]
"What I'm wearing right now is a traditional dress that nurses from the Joseon Dynasty used to wear. At the Seoul K Medi center you can learn not only about traditional Korean medicine but also experience how Joseon Dynasty doctors used natural herbs to cure people by trying on one of these costumes and also experiencing herbal medical care and therapies."
Young children came to take part in classes where they made their own Korean herbal cosmetic product.
KWAK Joon-hyuk, 11, Haneul Elementary School
"I have a feeling that this hand cream would be better for the skin because it contains fewer chemicals and more natural materials."
YOO Hyun-seo, 10, Seoul Sangam Elementary School
"It was difficult to follow, but I'm proud I made this myself. I like products with natural ingredients and traditional medicine."
At the facility, you can also receive free medical service such as acupuncture and moxa treatment from a professional Korean medicine doctor. The service is only for patients aged over 65, the disabled, and foreigners.
AHN Tae-han, Korean Medicine Doctor
"Korean medicine involves a way of observation that narrows down from the bigger whole to the smaller object. It starts from a deeper understanding of the human body as a part of nature. For example, acupuncture cures the body by observing the body as a whole and correcting the bodily imbalance by stimulating the circulation system."
Other than these programs, you can receive other medical care and therapy services such as a thermo-massage bed, herbal facial pack, herbal foot bath and aroma therapy. (Herbal foot bath services are not available during the winter.)
The center also offers herbal food cooking classes for foreigners who can learn to make nutritious herbal desserts.
Yangnyeongsi is worth a visit, especially if you are interested in Korean traditional medicine. Try natural herbal treatments ― they will work wonders on whatever bodily ailments you may have.
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