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(223) Fortunes for year of he black snake

By Janet ShinAccording to the saju calendar, the new year began on Feb. 4, the onset of spring. It is identified as the year of the black snake.Ancient people classified times, years, months, days and hours into 60 combinations of heavenly and earthly energies. These are generated by the 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches. Since they have the propensity for either yin or yang, the number of combinations reach 60 as it’s 10 times 12 divided by two.The stems grow from heaven to reach out to Earth to bear fruits. The Chinese characters to symbolize each stem portray growth and the development of plants. For example, “gap” illustrates how seeds bud and “eul” shows the image of blooming leaves and flowers. Meanwhile, the earthly branches are described by the names of animals, which ultimately represent humans and they are the fruition of universal activity. Among the 10 stems, “gye,” the heavenly energy, signifies a ritual for worship of the heavenly gods. When it comes to the classification of the five elements, gye represents yin wat

Feb 7, 2013
(223) Fortunes for year of he black snake

Does online dating work?

By Jung Min-ho, Kim Bo-eun, Bahk Eun-jiKim Jae-hee, a 33-year-old teacher at a private English institute, got married to a guy she met online last year.Only about 10 years ago, online dating was seen as a last resort for those desperate to find a date.However, with an increasing number of people seeking to meet people via social networking websites and smartphone applications, it is no longer the case.“I used to hang out in local pubs, spending money on drinks, which I didn’t even like, in the hope of finding a woman. For others, maybe church played such a role. But it seems like we don’t have to do that anymore,” said 28-year-old businessman Cho Jung-hyun.“Social network dating (SND) is quickly replacing them, I mean, in terms of serving such a purpose.”The service gives users options beyond women in their neighborhood and male-dominant companies, Cho added.“What I like about online dating most is the fact that it’s quick, which is very important for businesspeople like me since the time is always limited due to heavy workloads,”

Feb 5, 2013
Does online dating work?

Recipe for slow and steady diet

“Myeolchi Jumeokbap”- Rice ball with fried anchoviesIngredientsYou will need 2/3 of a bowl of cooked rice, which is approximately 140 grams, 1/4 sheet of dried seaweed, some sesame oil and sesame. For “Myeolchi Bokkum,” orstir-fried Japanese anchovies, you will need 15 grams of tiny Japanese anchovies, 1/3 of a tablespoon of “gochujang,” or Korean traditional red chili-pepper paste,1/3 teaspoon of “mulyeot,” or starch syrup, and some chopped garlic and vegetable oil.Step by step1. Cook rice and cool it. Then mix it well with sesame oil and sesame.2. Put the Japanese anchovies in sieve and shake to get rid of dust and powder. Grease the pan with oil and stir-fry anchovies.3. Mix gochujang and chopped garlic to make sauce for fried Japanese anchovies. Put it in the pan with the fried anchovies, and lightly stir-fry them again.4. Add 4/5 of the fried Japanese anchovies of step 3 to cooked rice and mix them.5. Cut the dried laver in 1 by 6 centimeters strips.6. Shape the mixed rice and anchovies into a ball, in form and size appropriat

Feb 1, 2013
Recipe for slow and steady diet

Internet addiction

Dear Dr. P,Hello I am a newly married career woman in early 30s.My worry is that I am addicted to the Internet, entertainment news and smart phones. Even if I have things to do, I just spend too much time on surfing the Internet and reading ‘needless’ entertainment news.The worst part is that I feel ashamed and guilty after having spent so much time on doing this stuff. I always tell myself that I should discipline myself and limit my time for doing wasteful things but I always fail to keep the promises I make to myself.I think it has a lot to do with my growing complaints with my work life during the day time. While surfing through Internet or reading the entertainment news, I like the fact that I don’t have to think nor do anything. It is actually very convenient for killing time as well.How can I fix this problem? I would greatly appreciate your advice on this. Dear Sender,These days, it is no exaggeration that we are living in a flood of information. In that sense, it is true that the information gathered through the Internet or a smartphone is very helpful

Feb 1, 2013
Internet addiction

Fibromyalgia ― the pain across the body

By Lee Sung-hunSome readers may have experienced tenderness and pain all over the body, and sought a diagnosis, only to go through extensive procedures such as blood tests and x-rays that showed no particular illness. Often the same people suffer from digestive issues, insomnia, or fatigue at the same time. Such people may have fibromyalgia.Unfortunately, the cause of fibromyalgia is yet to be identified, and as patients pass most of the common medical tests without a red flag it is hard to diagnose. It is estimated that 2 percent of the Korean population suffers from this disorder. When you consider that about 1 percent of the population has rheumatoid arthritis, you can appreciate how many of your friends and family may be suffering. It affects females five times more than males, and is especially common among those aged between 30 and 50.The symptoms of fibromyalgia are diverse. Typically, the patients complain of chronic body-wide pain, fatigue and sleep problems. To borrow patients’ expressions, “the whole body, from top to bottom, is tender and sore” and aches

Feb 1, 2013
Fibromyalgia ― the pain across the body

Which profile do you prefer?

By Yoon Ja-youngThe two photos on the right are profiles of the same woman, but her lips protrude in one and don’t in the other after computer manipulation.A research team led by professor Kook Yoon-ah at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital drew 13 profile silhouettes of a man and a woman, with protruding and sunken lips. They were adjusted from their original form in 1 millimeter increments in both directions. Then, 70 people, divided into three age groups, were asked to choose the profile they prefer.The survey showed that young people in their 20s and 30s prefer the profile in the left photo, where lips are located in straight line with the chin. Those in their 40s and 50s and the elderly, however, preferred the profile where the lips are shrunk and the chin protrudes, as in the right photo.The finding comes amid growing interest and concern over orthognathic surgery in the country. The surgery was developed to correct skeletal and dental irregularities, but an increasing number of people are seeking the surgery merely for the purpose of getting a more attractive face.“Peo

Feb 1, 2013By Yoon Ja-young
Which profile do you prefer?

Fermentation brings health to food

Fermentation increases nutrition in the food.                           / Korea Times fileBy Yoon Ja-youngKimchi, wine, natto, yogurt and cheese ... they are all known as healthy foods. They have another thing in common; they are produced by fermentation.Fermentation is the process where microorganisms dissolve or change organic compounds such as proteins or carbohydrates with enzymes. The process is similar to decomposition in that it is the work of microorganisms on organic matter, but the outcomes are very different: You get the food you want through fermentation but you have to throw food away after decomposition.Though they didn’t understand the process in the past, mankind has used fermentation to make food for over 10,000 years.Fermentation gives a new taste to the food. “The taste of fermented food is a comprehensive one, whether sweet, bitter, sour, salty, spicy or astringent, it makes harmony,” said Oh Doo-jin, a spokesman for Sempio Foods Company, which produces Korean traditional fermented

Feb 1, 2013By Yoon Ja-young
Fermentation brings health to food

Participants for menopause study wanted

Samsung Medical Center is seeking post-menopausal women with high blood pressure to participate in clinical research for hormonal treatment.The clinical tests will examine the effectiveness of such treatment — administering estrogen and micronized progesterone — on post-menopausal women whose estrogen deficiencies push up blood pressure.To participate in the research, patients should be aged from 40 to 65, have passed through menopause and be suffering from high blood pressure — with a systolic blood pressure of between 140 and 150 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure between 90 to 99 mmHg.The participants will be provided with 24-hour-ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and examinations for arteriosclerosis. They will also have their liver function, cholesterol and blood sugar level checked, along with an examination of hormone levels and for breast cancer. The hormonal medicines will also be provided for free.The clinical trial will take 12 weeks, and the participants will visit the hospital four times during the session. Those who can’t undergo hormonal trea

Feb 1, 2013

Sex guide published for cancer patients

san Medical Center has published a guide for a healthy sex life for male cancer patients and their spouses, to enhance their quality of life and resolve misunderstandings. The guide follows one for female cancer patients the hospital published in 2011.It includes topics such as sexual dysfunction that may accompany cancer treatment, a guide for a healthy sex life during such treatment, and medical therapy that may help their sex life.“Cancer patients tend to avoid or hesitate to have sex during treatment ... However, as a healthy sex life gives vigor to daily activities and helps relieve stress, it may be helpful in treatment,” said professor Ahn Seung-do at the hospital.The guidebook is free at the Asan Cancer Center located on the first floor of the hospital.

Feb 1, 2013By Yoon Ja-young

Popping from joints

By Song Sang-hoProbably everyone has had the experience of hearing the sudden “popping” sound in their knees when getting up from seats, walking or while exercising. People don’t pay much attention to their knees until they hear the sound and they start to worry, visiting a clinic.The knees are making a sound: Is it okay? Generally, doctors don’t diagnose the cracking sound in the knees as a disorder. There is no clear evidence for the cause of the sounds, but the phenomenon is understood as a tendon or ligament surrounding joints having contact with the bony prominences during movement. The sound can also come from a tendon or ligament getting stuck in between joints, making sliding friction. When joints are moved in an abnormal way, negative pressure (a kind of vacuum state) is formed, which makes air bubbles inside the joint that will pop later. This makes the “popping” sound.However, when the sound continues and is accompanied by pain and edema, you need to take a closer look. In the case of degenerative arthritis, the knees make a friction-lik

Feb 1, 2013
Popping from joints
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