By Kwon Mee-yoo
In Oriental medicine, there are meridian pathways in our body ― the route along which vital energy flows ― and acupoints, the energy-concentrated spots suitable for acupuncture.
There are eight meridian paths in the face, out of a total 14, and numerous acupoints along the pathways. If the energy on these routes becomes stagnant or blocked, it causes facial trouble such as pigmentation and decrease of suppleness.
Cosmetic acupuncture, which is to stimulate the acupoints to ensure the smooth flow of energy through the pathways and overall positive energy, is very “in” at the moment.
Lee Eun-mi, chief of the Lee Eun-mi Natural Oriental Medical Clinic in Myeong-dong, Seoul, uses special silver needles to stimulate acupoints in the head, face and neck to reduce face size and wrinkles, as well as perform facelifts along with other benefits.
“This is a very simple and painless procedure. The patients can go out to sightsee and shop right after the cosmetic operation with a more beautified face,” Lee said. “The effect is proven and some Japanese tourists come to our clinic regularly,” she said.
Such aesthetic treatments accompany the clinic's basic program including general consultation and treatment specializing in women's health issues such as chronic fatigue, menstrual pain, irregular menstruation, infertility and menopausal disorders. After interviewing the patient, a doctor may prescribe herbal medicine according to the symptoms.
The medicine can also be taken to encourage weight loss, Lee said. “Oriental herbal medicine has fewer side effects than Western drugs, some of them have been recently banned for adverse reactions,” she said.
Thanks to the government’s efforts to attract foreign medical tourists to the country, the clinic is also seeing an increase in foreign patients.
Lee said Oriental medicine can offer a cross-cultural experience for Westerners. “The effect of acupuncture is scientifically proven and it is used by Western physicians, thus they are more willing to try the Oriental treatments, too,” she said.
For those who would like to take a peep into the rather unfamiliar medical world ahead of being treated, she holds a free examination program at Namsangol Hanok Village on weekends in October. The program will move to the Korea Tourism Organization headquarters in November.
“The program is acts like an information center for international tourists interested in finding out about Oriental medicine. We will perform basic checkups and serve herbal tea and suggest proper medicine.”