The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
  • Translation Award
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Sat, December 7, 2019 | 22:51
Fallacies on Oriental medicine
Posted : 2014-03-07 16:35
Updated : 2014-03-07 16:35
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
By Lee Sung-hun

When I prescribe "hanyak," or Oriental herbal medicine, to patients at my clinic, I find that many are reluctant to take it because of fallacies they may have about it.

Oftentimes, they believe taking boyak will make them gain weight. Some women claim they did not lost weight after pregnancy because they took hanyak, while others fear that hanyak will damage their liver. Some are also worried whether the ingredients are free from heavy metallic substances or pesticides.

However, all of these mistaken impressions are based on information from unreliable sources.

Our readers may know the aim of Oriental medicine is bringing balance to our body. That is achieved by removing the excessive qi and filling up the gap through tonifying herbal medicine.

Oriental doctors call the procedure of filling up that gap the "restoring method." Hanyak used for such restoring methods, complementing energy rather than treating a certain illness, is called "boyak."

Boyak helps fight illnesses by strengthening our immune systems. Since the restoring method is a concept unique to Oriental medicine, many people confuse boyak with hanyak.

A popular misconception about boyak is that it leads to weight gain, since it replenishes deficiencies in our body. The truth is, however, most hanyak ingredients are plant-based, and an average daily dose would only add between 100 and 200 kilocalories, making those concerns rather unscientific and far-fetched.

Boyak's primary functions include restoring healthy digestive functions, and healthier digestive organs better absorb the medicinal and nutritional properties.

What actually happens is that boyak improves our digestive functions, which increases our appetite, thus leading to weight gain in some cases.

In my professional experience, I've seen patients gain weight in the range of 1 to 2 kilograms, but not anything like 5 to 10 kilograms.

Therefore, even if your appetite improves by taking boyak, maintaining your usual diet will help you avoid any significant weight increase.

The concerns about hanyak safety can probably be traced back to when people regarded it more as food than medicine. In the old days, when hanyak ingredients were distributed as food and agricultural products, a few unconscionable distributors handled the ingredients in very unhygienic ways. The mistrust from that era still lingers in the collective mind of the public.

In addition, frequent media coverage about heavy metal-poisoned or pesticide-laced agricultural products makes people worry that herbal ingredients may also have safety issues.

Let's look at ginseng, one of the best known hanyak ingredients. It is categorized as a food substance, and separately as a medicine. There are 139 types of hanyak ingredients that can be distributed either as food or medicine, like ginseng. However, it must be noted that ginseng used in Oriental clinics cannot be purchased privately or over the counter.

Those sold at markets and used as medicinal ingredients fall under a different distribution channel from the start.

The ingredients for hanyak pass rigorous testing by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for the presence of heavy metals, residual pesticides, sulfur dioxide, benzopyrene or fungal toxins. They also get examined thoroughly for their purity and dried weight.

A state-run company supervises the whole process of ginseng and the government guarantees the quality of not only ginseng, but other hanyak ingredients as well. Korea has among the highest safety standards, a fact acknowledged by experts around the world.

According to a joint study of the Gangnam District Public Health Center and the Association of Gangnam Korean Medicine, the level of heavy metals and residual pesticide in the average amount of brewed decoction patients take is lower than that found in a bowl of steamed rice.

Regarding the purported liver damage caused by hanyak, various domestic and international studies have shown that hanyak puts a strain on or damages the liver, but no more than Western medicine.

But if you take hanyak along with Western medicine that has hepatotoxicity, such as antibiotics or antiepileptics, it could increase the chances of liver damage.

Thus, it is essential to consult with your Western doctor when you are prescribed Western medicine while you're already taking hanyak.

There have been several occasions when I had to spend time and effort to explain to patients about the safety of hanyak, and to correct other misconceptions.

I hope people understand and correct their misconceptions about hanyak and take full advantage of its wonderful properties for treating not only their illnesses, but balancing their bodies.

The writer practices Korean Oriental medicine at the UN Oriental Medical Clinic in Hannam-dong, Seoul. He can be reached at sung_hun@naver.com.










 
 
  • numberShould China replace US as S. Korea's key ally?
  • numberKorea gripped by season's coldest weather
  • numberYoung Filipino-Korean dance group to perform musical show
  • number'Unprecedented' fires turn skies orange in Australia
  • numberBoeing poor in repairing defective B737 jets
  • numberNorth Korea threatens to resume calling Trump 'dotard'
  • numberIndians hail 'quick justice' after cops shoot dead 4 suspects in gang-rape case
  • numberBeijing asks Seoul to 'deal properly' with THAAD
  • numberLawmakers move to ban Tada's 'taxi business'
  • numberKorea slips to become Japan's No. 4 export destination amid trade row: data
  • Actor Kang Ji-hwan gets suspended prison sentence in rape case Actor Kang Ji-hwan gets suspended prison sentence in rape case
  • BTS, 'Parasite' - victims of China's culture protectionism BTS, 'Parasite' - victims of China's culture protectionism
  • Singer Choi Jong-hoon appeals gang-rape conviction Singer Choi Jong-hoon appeals gang-rape conviction
  • BTS 'takes swipe at' chart rankings manipulation BTS 'takes swipe at' chart rankings manipulation
  • Red-hot 'Frozen 2' melts records in Korea Red-hot 'Frozen 2' melts records in Korea
DARKROOM
  • Global climate change: time is running out

    Global climate change: time is running out

  • CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

    CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

  • No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

    No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

  • Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

    Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

  • Halloween

    Halloween

  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright