Traditional Korean Medicine

Traditional Korean medicine originated in ancient times and is based on the same fundamental principles as traditional Chinese medicine.

Oriental medicine considers decreased vital energy and a weakened immune system to be the cause of disease. According to the philosophy of Oriental medicine, an illness is not a problem with a particular part of the body but rather an imbalance of the life forces in the whole body.

Treatment is aimed at curing disease by strengthening the immune system and restoring harmony within the body. Major fields of Oriental medicine include herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxa treatment and suction-cup therapy.

During the period of the Three Kingdoms, Chinese Medicine and Indian Medicine were adopted in Korea, forming the foundations of traditional Korean medicine. By the time the Yuan Dynasty was established in China, Korean medicine had developed its own techniques.

Korean medicine flourished in the Joseon Dynasty. During the reign of King Sejong, a book named Eui Bang Ryu Chwi was published which consolidated knowledge from books on Chinese medicine. After this, many books on Korean medicine were published.

In the early 20th century, the colonisation of Korea by Japan brought medicine from the West and there was a period of decline for traditional Korean medicine. However, by the end of World War II and subsequent independence from Japan, traditional Korean medical practices regained their popularity.

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