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(243) How saju tells the tragic life of King Danjong

By Janet Shin How can we explain “karma” with saju? This is referred in reading every relationship as well as marital harmony of a couple. There is a saying in Korea, actually in Buddhism, there must have been 10s of thousands of karmic connections from previous lives in order for the two to meet in this life. This explains how meaningful our encounters are whether they are good or bad. The so-called ill-fated relationships also have a certain signification in our lives. We may learn the relationship networks written in saju so as to foretell whether they become a good match or not.One of the fundamental concepts of saju theory is the dynamic relations among the five elements, wood, fire, earth, metal and water. They coexist, either by nurturing or by restraining each other. They are called mutual nourishment and restriction.The mutual nourishment cycle is circulating, wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Wood makes fire by burning, the fire creates ashes from wood to nourish the earth, the earth contains metal and makes metal solid, the metal purifies water and the w

Jul 4, 2013
(243) How saju tells the tragic life of King Danjong

Are all 4D movies really exciting?

Moviegoers sit in vibrating chairs in a 4D theater, watching a movie with 3D glasses at CGV Chungdam in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul. The theater is installed with equipment to support 4D effects, including seat vibration, jets of air or water, mist, smoke, lightning, aromatic vapors and bubbles. / Courtesy of CGVBy Baek Byung-yeul, Park Ji-won and Nam Hyun-woo Thanks to advancement in technology, people can now enjoy movies at four-dimensional (4D) cinemas, equipped with vibrating chairs and other physical effects that synchronize with the film.More movies are being released in 4D, but the high ticket prices _ twice as much as that of regular movies _ makes some people wonder, is it really worth it?How do 4D movies work in a three-dimensional (3D) world? Actually 4D refers to a marketing term for an entertainment presentation system, not to spatial coordinates.In 4D, the fourth “dimension” refers to the physical effects added to 3D movies. The physical effects include simulated rain, wind, lightning, explosions, fluorescent lights and movements. High-tech kinetic seat

Jul 2, 2013
Are all 4D movies really exciting?

Malignant cancer

Dear Dr. P,Hi. I got your address from The Korea Times. I read the newspaper almost daily. Regarding medical problems, I know you can help. Here is what worries me: My Korean mother-in-law is fighting malignant adenoid cystic carcinoma. Her tongue is cramped and filled with thick saliva, like mucus. Are there cancer cells in saliva? Is cancer transmittable through the saliva? Then wow! She can transmit it to four people. You know how Korean mothers are in the kitchen — they wipe the rim of the dishes with their fingers, and then clean their fingers with their mouth like dogs licking their favorite bone.I am a Filipino woman married to a Korean man. We have two children. My mother-in-law is over 70. She eats gruel, porridge and other food that is easy to swallow.Please answer my question and have a nice day! Dear sender,I can imagine what a difficult task it must be for you, because not only are you and your husband raising two children, you are also taking care of your mother-in-law who is fighting malignant cancer. This seems like too much hard work for you.I recommend th

Jun 28, 2013
Malignant cancer

Nesting begins: Am I ready?

By Jane HanAnd the final countdown begins.With just three days left till my due date, I guess it really doesn’t matter if I’m ready or not. Either way, the babies are coming into the world at nine in the morning.My 38 weeks is up and the moment is finally here.Physically, I can confidently say that I am beyond ready. Every time I struggle to get up at 2 a.m. with a watermelon belly and swollen feet for my 12th bathroom run of the night, the only thing that makes me feel better is knowing that I only have a few more days of these painful nights left.But psychologically and emotionally, I don’t know what I’m feeling. It’s a constant back and forth. One moment I’m ecstatic that I finally get to see my beautiful girls. The next moment, I’m in utter panic that I’m not prepared to look after such tiny and fragile human beings who will call me mom.Yes, mom. That word was always someone else. My mom, my mom’s mom, my neighbors and a bunch of friends, but now it’s going to be me. Oh no, another panic attack on the way.Am I thinking t

Jun 28, 2013
Nesting begins: Am I ready?

Dad, you're not Superman

By Song Sang-ho“Man of Steel,” the latest Superman movie, is very popular with film fans. As a student, Superman was an incredible icon. Everybody wanted to be like Superman and become the hero of the hour.Since my early childhood, I remember considering my father as someone who was somewhat similar to Superman. The way he would complete any type of work or easily lift up heavy items was so marvelous.However, our fathers are not exactly the same as Superman. From a medical perspective, middle-aged and elderly people are at an age where joints become weak and vulnerable. A lack of exercise and continuous late night shifts can also cause deteriorating health in joints.Among associated health issues are shoulder disorders. The human shoulder consists of the head of the humerus, which is shaped like a round-ball, stuck onto the glenoid fossa, which is shaped like a cup. As the glenoid cavity only covers about one-fourth of the head of the humerus, it is not a stable structure. As much as it is not stable, there is also a higher risk of injury.Even though stability is increase

Jun 28, 2013
Dad, you're not Superman

Summer health tips for diabetics

Doctors advise that diabetic people should especially take care of their feet in summer. / Korea Times fileBy Yoon Ja-youngOne in 10 Koreans aged 30 or over has diabetes — most people are likely to have one or two diabetics in their families.Doctors say that summer is an especially difficult season for diabetic people, because it is difficult to control blood glucose levels when they are tired from the heat.Prof. Park Kyong-soo at Seoul National University Hospital gave tips on how diabetic people can enjoy a healthy summer. — Don’t skip meals In summer, people are likely to lose their appetites. However, regular meals and a balanced diet are crucial in the management of blood sugar levels, according to the professor. He suggests diversifying menus, alternating between popular and healthy summer dishes such as cold bean noodles and cold cucumber soup. “Even if you eat out, you should be choosing the right food and appropriate amount by paying enough attention to the ingredients and calories of the dishes that you often have out,” he said. &mdas

Jun 28, 2013By Yoon Ja-young
Summer health tips for diabetics

Smartphone application helps diabetic treatment

A diabetic smartphone application by Lilly. A recentstudy shows that such applications can help patients effectively control blood glucose level.By Yoon Ja-youngA healthy lifestyle is crucial in the treatment of diabetes, but doctors whom you meet every three or four months can’t change your lifestyle. That’s why a caring daughter who constantly reminds the diabetic parents to check their blood glucose level and to control their diet may be more helpful than doctors in this regard.Prof. Park Cheol-young at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital said smartphones that people have with them 24 hours a day might play a role of the caring daughter. Patients who used diabetic smartphone applications proved that it works, with blood glucose level falling.A 62-old-male who participates in the hospital’s program managing diabetes with a smartphone, for instance, starts the day by inputting his blood sugar level in the “Healthy Note” application, every morning. Before participating in the program, he had little idea how he could effectively control the blood sugar. As he inputs

Jun 28, 2013By Yoon Ja-young
Smartphone application helps diabetic treatment

Exercise, morning or evening?

By Yoon Ja-youngAs temperatures soar in the afternoon, people planning to lose weight should choose whether it’s better to exercise in the morning or evening.According to Dr. Seo Il-beom at Grand Plastic Surgery, morning exercise might be better for losing weight. “If you exercise in the morning, you feel fresh thanks to the secretion of Adrenalin. If you exercise on an empty stomach, your body burns fat more quickly,” said the doctor.However, he points out that too much exercise in the morning can be harmful because the flexibility of muscles or joints reduces in the morning. One’s ability to exercise is also hampered because the enzyme involved in energy metabolism is less activated.The doctor therefore recommends taking enough warm-up exercise — over 10 minutes — to ease the tension in muscles by raising the body temperature and to ease the movement of the joints as well because increasing the blood flow helps the body to adjust to exercising.Exercise in the evening, however, is also effective and helps boost the immune system. The doctor said t

Jun 28, 2013By Yoon Ja-young
Exercise, morning or evening?

Healing recipes Ginseng Tteokgalbi (meat balls)

Courtesy of Media WillTteokgalbi, or Korean meat balls, becomes chewier in texture the more you mince and knead the meat. As you add ginseng to the minced meat, the scent of the ginseng harmonizes with the meat to give it a deeper taste.Ginseng is one of the most widely known medicinal herbs that replenish the Qi, or life energy in Oriental medicine. It bolsters the function of the brain to lessen forgetfulness, and forms sap in the body. It strengthens the respiratory organs and digestive organs at the same time and boosts immunity.Tteokgalbi with ginseng will replenish both mind and body tired from the summer heat. As the minced meat will be better digested and absorbed, the dish is especially good to serve to the elderly. Ingredients(to serve two people)You will need 250 grams of rib beef, a handful of overly fermented kimchi, five fresh ginseng roots, three jujubes, some pumpkin seeds, two tablespoons of glutinous rice flour, a half tablespoon of chopped pine, a teaspoon of sesame oil, and a teaspoon of chopped chives.For seasoning the beef, you will need one tablespoon

Jun 28, 2013By Yoon Ja-young
Healing recipes Ginseng Tteokgalbi (meat balls)

Kwang Dong launches erectile dysfunction medicine

Kwang Dong Pharmaceutical announced the launch of “Ignis ODF,” or oral dissolving film to treat erectile dysfunction. Containing 50 milligrams of sildenafil, sold on the market as Viagra, the medicine resembles a postal stamp and can be taken without water. “While it provides the effect of other sildenafil drugs just the same, the price is set lower to lessen the burden,” a spokesperson for Kwang Dong said. “While film type medicines currently take up just a small portion of the erectile dysfunction market, we expect to take a certain portion of the pie in the future thanks to their special characteristics. People are increasingly becoming aware of such products,” he added.

Jun 28, 2013By Yoon Ja-young
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