Alternative Medicine For Korean Culture

In the East, however, thousands of years of traditional medicine look at disease in a different way more of the human body being out of balance with itself as well as

Historically, their medical system was based on the Chinese medicine i.e. acupuncture and herbal remedies were the normal treatments. The Chinese model is not based on treating specific organs or symptoms directly but rather treating the whole body by balancing the energy flows of the body. While modern medical science still does not understand how the system works. It has been documented to be effective.

The essential Qi, in traditional Chinese medicine is classified in two categories: normal Qi and the evil Qi. While the normal Qi is part inborn, part inherited from parents and part acquired through food essence and the air, therefore essential for daily life activities and body 's resistance against disease; on the other hand the evil Qi is very harmful to health. The explanation for evil Qi being harmful to health is that it comprises of various pathogenic factors such as: excessive wind, cold or heat. All these abnormal atmospheric changes are considered being the evil Qi. Thus, in this context, disease is defined as being a process of struggle between the normal Qi and the evil Qi. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine book explains Qi by saying: "If genuine qi prevails, attack of evil qi never avails." Since Qi is said to be invisible and its role is to act as the motive force in support for all kinds of life activities, the word Qi itself, in traditional Chinese medicine is translated into English as "vital energy".

The study of alternative medicine originated in China during the Austrian Empire and has developed since the eighteenth century.

Incorporate non-pharmacological complementary and alternative treatments with conventional medicine to treat complex chronic pain conditions as a collaborative and integral part of the health care system.

During the 1930s through 1940s, when World War 2 was happening, Japan invaded Korea and other Asian countries. They brought and tricked tens of thousands of females to thinking they're going into forced labor and work at a factory. This was false. Japanese army sent them to comfort camps and began prostitution, or what others call, sex slaves. This all occurred nearly 70 - 80 years ago. And now, Korea is now complaining about the past. Japan shouldn’t have to pay restitution to the comfort women, specifically Korean comfort women.

“Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) remain the most ancient yet living traditions. There has been increased global interest in traditional medicine (Hindawi)”. Chinese medicine focuses on finding the exact cause of illness instead of just offering a solution. Traditional Chinese medical practices forces on the balance of yin and yang within a person and the five elements ( water, wood, fire, metal, and earth). Metal corresponds to the lungs, wood to the liver, fire to the heart, water to the kidneys and earth to the spleen. Among some of these healing practices, there

In addition, Huo Tuo developed traditional Chinese acupuncture that involves inserting very fine needles on specific parts of the body to relieve physical and emotional distress by triggering the body’s natural healing response (Ye et al., 2015). Finally, Hua Tuo developed Doa Yin Qigong exercises that focused on the holistic nature of the human body and the link to mind, body and the environment in achieving wellness. The exercises involve carefully crafted physical movement, regulated breathing and mental awareness with the aim of promoting the free flow of energy in the body (Ye et al., 2015). The use of acupuncture in medicine has also been used particularly in addressing pain in a number of conditions such as a variety of cancers. According to Wang and Litscher (2015) acupuncture is used to address symptoms particularly in regards to cancer as nausea, fatigue and vomiting. It is always important to respect patient’s choices of alternative care but as advocates our responsibility is to educate the patient that a treatment may not be covered by their medical insurance and can be very expensive for the patient. We want to prevent any additional economic distress added to their physical problems. “Holistic health care is an important foundational concept in nursing and medicine” (Conroy & Taggart, 2016). Chinese patients classify medication and food as “Yin/cold” or “Yang/hot”. Yin is the female, negative

Traditional Chinese Medicine, based on Chinese traditions of more than 2,000 years, comprises of various medicinal practices such as acupuncture, herbal medicines, massage (Tui Na), and exercise (qigong). Unlike other branches of medicine, the ideology

Korea is a country that dabbles in various religions and traversed deep into their traditions one of which is Shamanism. “In these rituals, the focus is on both the shaman's (mudang) individual experience as well as on the shaman's hereditary abilities to contact the spirit world, inhabited by various shamanistic gods. With its history of some five thousand years, shamanism is the oldest belief system in Korea” (Miettinen 2010). A tradition that nearly everyone in South Korea participated in until the arrival of religions varying from Confucianism to Protestant Christianity. Christianity arrived in Korea a little under 200 years. By integrating parts of shamanistic practices, various religions have benefited and greatly passed the limits of western religion.

The complex structure and foreign nature of Tibetan medicine makes it difficult to relate its practices to Western medicine, making it difficult to determine the clinical efficacy of Eastern medical practice. Several clinical analysis studies have recently been performed in order to determine the efficacy of the “holistic” practices of Eastern cultures. Whether the studies show Eastern or Western practices to be more effective, I believe that the most effective treatment should be a combination of both practices.

Ancient Chinese medicine, originating from almost 2,000 years ago, is a set of traditions that has influenced modern medicine because of its diverse methods, techniques, and discoveries. Since its beginning, it has yet to diverge from its original practices:

Traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, is one of the oldest systems of medicine to exist among humans, and it is extremely prominent to this day. According to legend, the system has been in use since the third millennium BCE. The views of such an old system differ greatly from those found in modern western medicine. Perhaps most prominent is the fact that TCM focuses more on the patient than the illness. The system considers the human to be a microcosm of the universe, implying that the body is affected by the traditional Taoist forces of yin and yang, the five elements, and Qi in the same way the cosmos are. Each of these forces act upon the “zang fu,” or organ system, directly influencing a patient’s health. Healers use qigong to assist in the restoration of stability in the body. Achieving balance, both internally and externally, is the most important aspect of healing in TCM.

TCM, or Traditional Chinese Medicine, can be traced as far back as 1000 BC, where stone acupuncture needles were believed to be used. Texts from that period also talked of Yin and Yang and other concepts. The first written work on TCM is titled the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic, Huangdi Newijing (Gascoigne 11). This book was written in 300 BC, but entries date back to the early 2700’s BC. The book is still used in universities of Chinese Medicine around the world and is often called the bible of TCM. Today, TCM is still thriving in China and all of Asia. In recent years, information on TCM has become available to people in the United States. The United States has several schools of TCM, and it is now much easier to buy the necessary

One important aspect of Chinese culture is Traditional Chinese Medicine, also known as TCM. Chinese medicine has been around for quite awhile, and is still around today. In the United States, we see it as acupuncture and massage. TCM is still widely popular in its home country where it is still practiced as it was a few centuries ago. Chinese medicine is evolving to our modern day times, but it is keeping close ties to its roots. Chinese medicine is also becoming more affluent in different parts of the globe. It is a major part of Chinese history and culture, and the people who participate in it do so with great respect. With Chinese medicine, there is great history, procedures, risks, and how it lives in the modern world.