Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Big Stride Made in Treating Head & Neck Cancer

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter Cancers of the head and neck are serious problems in Korea. About 2,500 people are diagnosed with the illness every year, making it the eighth most common cancer here. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, the disease affects the head or neck region - in the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, salivary glands, throat or larynx (voice box). The cancer develops in the squamous cells that line the mucosal surfaces in the head and neck, and often spreads to other organs such as the lymphatic glands. The tumors are detected by computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging and, in some cases, positron emission tomography is used for detection. The cancer shows different incidence among races. The nasopharyngeal cancer, a rare tumor arising from the epithelium of the nasopharynx, is dominant among Southeast Asian patients but the ratio is lower among Caucasians. "We aren't really sure what causes the difference. Maybe it's just more of a statistical matter. We are trying to define its generation," said Heo Dae-seog,

Nov 29, 2009

(69) Frequently Asked Questions About Saju

By Janet Shin People are interested in saju (four pillars), a study to understand and predict our life by looking at one's year, month, day and time of birth, for different reasons. Some people consider saju just a bit of fun, while others take it seriously. Others look at saju as superstition and trust it blindly, while others distrust it. Saju is still considered an occult theory and when people consult a saju analyst, some of their questions are quite absurd. This is partly because of saju's portrayal in the media and partly due to the so-called fortune tellers themselves. There have been many instances where fortune tellers have deceived those who came for consultation by selling expensive charms or exorcisms. There are also other instances where they boast of their power to change one's fate. For those who desire certain unrealistic changes in their lives saju could be a tempting lure. If people believe they can change their fortunes from bad to good, they could do whatever it takes or pay whatever it costs. The truth is there is no way we can change our fate. I

Nov 26, 2009

Buddhist Experts Stress Need for Books in English

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Buddhist experts agreed on the need for more English-language books on and translations of Korean Buddhism, and even an English newspaper on the subject during an annual seminar last week. The 12th seminar for the ``Outlook and Meaning of the Globalization of Ganhwa Seon'' was held at the Korean Buddhist History and Culture Memorial Hall, Friday, with Buddhist experts, monks and writers in attendance. ``Ganhwa Seon'' is a method of Buddhism aimed at seeing one's original nature through the use of ``hwadu,'' or key phrases given to practitioners to help them achieve that goal. If one sees his or her original nature, then that person is considered enlightened. It is known as one of the most developed meditation methods in the Buddhist world and has been the primary method carried out by the Jogye Order, the largest Buddhist sect in Korea. This year's priority issue was how to bring Ganhwa Seon to the international level through various means, especially books. ``In terms of information, it is hard to find. There are a number of books t

Nov 23, 2009

Preventing Aftereffects of Killer Heels

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter Killer heels are very trendy at the moment. Fashion magazine Vogue reported that heels over 11 centimeters in height will be in style this winter. Women say these heels help them have nicer legs and attractive postures. Online merchandiser GMarket sold over 1 million pairs of the shoes in the first half of the year. However, doctors warn that wearing them can lead to serious damage to the feet and, eventually, the whole body. Professor Jang Eui-chang of Chung Ang University Medical Center said that heels exceeding an inch in height cause stress and put pressure on the feet, ankles and back. This condition can become more serious over time, and can lead to various disorders. "The pressure on the soles of the feet isn't equally dispersed. The bones of the feet become deformed, causing constant pain. One's manner of walking also becomes irregular. All of this causes a knee joint disorder that can eventually affect the whole body," he said. "One may need surgery in the future." Women opting for killer heels should rest every three hour

Nov 22, 2009

Songgwang Temple Sings Song of Buddha

This is the sixth first in a 10-part series on templestays. ― ED. By Roger Shepherd Contributing Writer On a late grey afternoon, I stepped off the bus in the busy car park area of Songgwang Temple near Suncheon in South Jeolla Province. Watching the busy restaurants go about their trade to serve the eating crowds, I walked up the sealed road that leads to the entrance of this famous temple. Immediately, as if I was transported, I found myself walking in the splendor and charm of the autumn forest, away from the mundane. Like me, many had come to this fabulous place to view the savannah like speckles of the mountain interior leading to Songgwang Temple. The neutral grey skyline cast a surreal ``out of this world'' appearance as its heaviness loomed above the glimmering gold-flecked forest. The coffee-brown limbs of the maple trees networked behind the dangling leaves as they shimmered inside the dying forest. The kaleidoscopic leaves danced in colors of vermillion orange, deep crimson reds, mustard yellows and copper gold's. At the top of the short road, the Songgwa

Nov 19, 2009

Kim Eyes Rooting Out Leukemia

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter Leukemia used to be a deadly disease. Professor Kim Dong-wook of Seoul St. Mary's Hospital declared those days are gone. "Now with good medication and other treatments, I see more than 70 percent of the patients survive for more than five years," he said. Leukemia is a cancer that originates in bone marrow and spreads in cells that in a healthy person would have turned into white blood cells. Leukemia is classified as either acute or chronic. Acute leukemia is caused by the rapid increase of immature blood cells, which makes the bone marrow unable to produce healthy blood cells. It takes only a couple of months for the acute form of leukemia to develop into a more serious illness. "It needs swift treatment; it doesn't take long till it gets fatal and may affect other organs," Kim said. Chronic leukemia is caused by the excessive build up of relatively mature but abnormal white blood cells. While acute leukemia is more common among youths, the chronic form is detected more in older people. Chronic leukemia is detected more

Nov 15, 2009

(68) History of Saju

By Janet Shin Once we start studying something, at certain point, we ask fundamental questions of where the theories came from, who founded those and how it was developed. Saju, four pillars of destiny, is known as a fortune telling practice within the realm of Chinese Astrology, which adopted the logic of yin and yang and five elements. Except for some books written by Chinese scholars, it is hard to pinpoint its exact historical background. It was deleted or distorted by the political beliefs or ideology of each dynasty. In Korea, there were just some fragmentary descriptions about saju-reading the fate ``Myeong'' from the Joseon Kingdom from which we are able to find out the historical introduction of Korean saju. It is hard to separate Korean saju from others because there are many shared historical facts among Korea, China and Japan (as well as south Asian countries). While some are owned by one country, past historical events make it impossible to distinguish specific traits of each saju. If you take the ``I Ching'' ― the ``Book of Changes'' ―, traditionally it w

Nov 12, 2009

Christian Medical Conference Draws Global Attendance

The 6th International Christian Medical Conference was held at the President Hotel, Kiev, Ukraine, on Oct. 30 and 31, 2009, under the auspices of the Ukraine Organizing Committee of the WCDN (World Christian Doctors Network), whose founder and board chairman is Rev. Dr. Lee Jae-rock. It was attended by 400 doctors and medical professionals from 30 nations, including the U.S. and Italy, and featured many medical doctors from Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and many other Russian-speaking nations. On Oct 30, the conference kicked off with opening remarks from Dr. Mikhail Morgulis, president of the Spiritual Diplomacy movement, and a welcoming address by Dr. Gilbert Chae, president of the WCDN. It was followed by a special message from Lee, founder and board chairman of WCDN, who presented a video of himself in which he said, ``Now if you become a true disciple of Jesus Christ, you will not only heal many people's physical diseases but also heal and save their souls as well.'' During the Conference, an Australian Doctor Irene Jacovou presented a healing

Nov 11, 2009

Tips for Healthy Mouth, Lips

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter The skin covering the lips is one of the most sensitive areas on the human body. Lack of sleep, fatigue, a strong wind and cold temperatures can all cause rashes, cracks and other problems. Lips can also reveal a person's health status. Swollen, blistered or cracked lips hint at tiredness or disorders in other body parts. Here are seven tips provided by health portal site Kormedi.com on how to keep the lips healthy. 1. If lips get chapped: Many people tend to lick their lips, which often worsens the symptoms. Applying lip balms or other moisturizers is OK, but if the condition persists visit a dermatologist. 2. Blisters around the lips: A herpes virus infection is said to be the main cause for blisters around the mouth. Extreme fatigue exacerbates the condition. Applying Interferon and other anti-viral ointments is recommended. 3. Ulcers inside the mouth: Doctors suspect that viral infection and a weak immune system in conjunction with extreme stress can cause such a condition. Do not touch the ulcer with your tongue. Eating plent

Nov 8, 2009

(67) Saju and Feng Shui (2)

By Janet Shin Let's get into more specifics about saju and feng shui. Feng shui involves balancing yin-yang and five elements by appropriate placing of the graves and houses including city, building and interior decorations. It is to maximize the vital qi for the better health, business and people relations. Then, how is feng shui connected to saju? Both analyzes and balances yin-yang and the five elements around us. If saju is to review heaven and earth's energy by one's birth year, month, day and time, feng shui is to review one's living and grave places and the allocations of interior pieces. Now that we saw one connection between the saju and the feng shui, it would be interesting if we find ways to create a synergy effect by utilizing the benefits of both. Practically, let's follow the steps to understanding yourself in association with five elements energy. 1. The first step is to get your saju (four pillars) by your birth year, month, day and time. You don't have to worry about plotting the saju as it can be easily calculated by the help of internet.

Nov 6, 2009

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