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Life is so made that opposites sway
about a trembling center of balance.
D.H. Lawrence, ‘Morality
and the Novel’
What to Call Our Medicine
As Shakespeare puts
it, what’s in a name? Well, apparently, everything’s
in a name. Even Shakespeare himself carefully names
his heroes and heroines to emphasize the accurateness
and irony of characters. Name plays a huge role in characterizing
the subject of the name. And name is the main problem
we are discussing here.
How shall we name our
medicine? Of course, naming our medicine is an immeasurably
important task, and much research, study and discussion
are essential to reach an agreeable conclusion. We Koreans,
who take such significance in naming an infant, should
very well pay great attention in coming up with a way
to call such an important subject. Our medicine is a
unique and scientific medicine, the accuracy of which
is approved even by today’s most advanced technology,
and which stands distinguished among the Far Eastern
medicines. Many people throughout the world predict
that the philosophy of the Far East will be the dominating
philosophy of this new millennium. The same is true
with medicine. In the Western countries, words such
as alternative medicine, complementary medicine, and
holistic medicine are getting all the spotlights. Our
medicine will become one of the medicines of tomorrow,
and it is our responsibility to correctly guide the
world to the sphere of our own proud medicine. And what
could be a better start then to give a precise name
to it?
1. Oriental Medicine
Our medicine is currently
called “Oriental medicine”, and there seems to be little
objections to this naming. But as our medicine is getting
more attention from the outside world and it becomes
inevitable to take more heed in spreading the knowledge,
the name becomes a matter of serious concern. In many
ways the term “Oriental” poses as a controversial problem.
The word “Orient” came to refer to the whole Asia including
the Far East these days. It actually initiated from
the ancient Romans, who, called the western part of
the Italian peninsula, “Occideus”, and the eastern part,
“Orient”. It comes from the word “Oriens”, the noun
form of Latin verb, “Orior”.-“Orior” means ‘to rise;
to appear. This is from where the word “Oriens” came
to mean ‘the eastern; place where the Sun starts to
rise’. The term “Oriental Medicine” came to be the counterpart
of “Western Medicine”. However, this equation doesn’t
make sense because, “oriental” and “western” can’t be
paired together. If the Western Medicine is called “Western
Medicine”, then it would be more adequate to call its
counterpart as “Eastern Medicine”. The term “Oriental
Medicine” makes sense only when its counterpart is named
as “Occidental Medicine”.
2. Eastern Medicine
Now, we feel the need
to go over the concept of “East” and “West” here. It’s
extremely “normal” to take the “east” as where the Sun
rises from in the morning and the “west” as where the
Sun sets in the evening. And from the world atlas we’ve
all seen in class makes us visualize as the Sun rising
from the right-the “east”, and setting to the left-the
“west”. But, think again carefully.
This planet we live
on is not 2-D, but rather 3-D. If you start from somewhere
on earth and start traveling forward-let’s say eastward
for convenience, you will end up coming back to where
you were. So, then, were you traveling eastward or westward?
This tells us that unless there’s a specific spot appointed,
there’s cannot be such things as dividing the “east”
from the “west”. Anywhere on earth can be “east”, and
“west” at the same time.
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Maps
differ from countries to countries. Asians tend
to put the Asian continent on the left, while Europeans
put European continent on the left. According to
the kinds of maps below, the term "Western
Medicine" and "Eastern Medicine"
don't seem to be proper. But the actual world is
not at all planar. |
3. Traditional Korean Medicine
The Chinese have created
the term TCM, which stands for "Traditional Chinese
Medicine" to call their medicine. “Traditional”
often relates to things that have been used for a long
time in the past and are usually not considered "scientific"
but rather mystical and magical. If our medicine is
called "Korean Traditional Medicine", then
it would definitely mean that our medicine has a relatively
long history. But, we thought about the word "traditional"
again. If our medicine has its' unique characters, then
it wouldn't be necessary to put the word "traditional".
"Korean Medicine" would just rightly name
our medicine.
4. Korean Medicine
Buying a domain for
our website, the first thing we had to be careful about
is "how to name our own medicine in English."
We took many possible names into considerations, and
concluded with a new term "Korean Medicine".
It is true that there's controversy over naming Medicines
by countries, since not each and every Medicine around
the world developed independently, but rather cooperatively.
The main reason for actually ending up in creating a
new term for our medicine is that, there seems to be
little understanding of the uniqueness of Korean Medicine,
although people are more and more getting to know the
value of it.
That much said it becomes
fearfully necessary to go over what kinds of label have
been considered as a means to call the medicine the
Far Eastern Asians call “our medicine.” And that will
also somewhat enlighten us Koreans on how to name our
medicine.
5. Other names that is still controversial:
Complementary/Alternative Medicine, etc
When we say “Medicine”
we mean Western medicine. That much is agreed generally.
So, words are added to recount various health-promoting
and healing procedures, e.g. alternative medicine,
complementary medicine, holistic medicine,
integrative medicine, etc. All of those words, alternative(things
in place of something else), complementary(which fills
or complete something), holistic(which considers many
sides to a problem) and integrative(forming part of
a whole), relate to things that substitute or fill something
else, having many open choices. (Although opinions vary
even on which word is the best, that is.) According
to the American Holistic Medical Association:
Holistic
medicine is a system of medical care that emphasizes
personal responsibility and fosters a cooperative relationship
among all those involved. It encompasses all safe modalities
of diagnosis and treatment while emphasizing the whole
person?physical, emotional and spiritual. Environmental,
nutritional and life-style factors are also considered.
Doctor
Henry Edward Altenberg, author of Holistic Medicine,
introduces osteopathic medicine, chiropractic, homeopathy,
naturopathy, herbal medicine and nutrition as the Western
traditions of healing in his book. As the Eastern traditions
of healing he introduces traditional Chinese medicine,
Japanese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine. (Sadly, no
Korean medicine.) Part III of the book is about non-medical
healings, such as healing energies, breathwork, affirmations,
visualization, guided imagery, meditation and support
groups.
In
Your Guide to Complementary Medicine, naturopathy, acupuncture,
holistic dentistry, Shiatsu, herbal medicine, Tai Chi,
massage, bodywork, traditional Chinese medicine, yoga,
reflexology, Ayurveda, acupressure, homeopathy, biofeedback,
meditation, nutrition, aromatherapy, etc. are included.
Many
categories are common factors in both, and therefore
we can conclude that holistic medicine and complementary
medicine very mean much the same thing.
Complementary
care, commonly referred to as holistic or wholistic
healthcare, covers treatment options that generally
are not a part of conventional medical practice. These
approaches are not viewed as alternatives, but as complements.
In partnership with conventional Western medicine, the
treatments can bolster your potential for health and
recovery. It is clear that when it comes to emergency
procedures and appropriate surgical interventions, conventional
medicine excels. However, a combination of standard
treatments and complementary care approaches can be
very effective. (Credit, Hartunian, & Nowak, 1998).
Let
us now find out what the methods of the categories are
and see which ones are in concord with our medicine.
The ones that are comparatively close to what we are
dealing with, i.e. the methods common in all the countries
of the Far East and traditional healthcare, are highlighted
in green. (Information taken directly from Reader’s
Digest Guide to Medical Cures & Treatments. This
book calls the following approaches to treatment natural
medicine or alternative medicine.)
Acupuncture and Other Chinese Remedies
Acupuncture is a form of healing based on the concept
that all body organs are inter-connected by channels,
known as Meridians, and that illness occurs when the
vital energy, or Ki, flowing through these channels
is partially blocked. A practitioner of acupuncture
attempts to correct this imbalance by inserting thin
needles along the Meridians at designated points, called
acupoints, and in certain cases twirling them, either
manually or with an electrical device. He or she may
combine the treatment with other traditional practices,
such as herbal medicine, diet therapy, and massage.
The most effective acupuncturists are said to contribute
their own Ki during the procedure. Transmission of energy
occurs when the needles are inserted and rotated. (Origins:
The Chinese developed the acupuncture system over 2,000
years ago out of a principle of Taoist religious philosophy.
As with all traditional Chinese medicine, it is based
on the theory that good health depends upon a balance
of the forces of yin and yang. These opposites, which
exist in nature?as female and male, moon and sun, darkness
and light?have their counterparts within the body. Illness
occurs when these forces are out of sync, so the goal
of this particular therapy is to restore balance. Acupoints
were designated according to their assumed clinical
function in restoring the balance of yin and yang, thereby
improving circulation of both Ki and blood. One legend,
which attempts to explain how acupoints were determined,
says that during wars in ancient time, physicians observed
that soldiers who had been struck by arrows in certain
parts of the body were mysteriously cured of specific
illnesses. Western interest in acupuncture has developed
sporadically. In the 18th century, when Christian missionaries
from Europe were expelled from China, some took acupuncture
techniques back home with them. In the 19th century,
Chinese workers, who came to North America to help build
the railroads, brought information about acupuncture,
among other remedies, which ultimately caught the attention
of some doctors and healers. More recently, interest
in acupuncture has been sparked by two events: the opening
of China to the West and the investigation of alternative
methods of dealing with pain. How it works: There is
no parallel in Western medicine for the Meridians and
acupoints indicated on the traditional acupoints indicated
on the traditional acupuncture chart. Within the frame
of reference for Western science, it has not been possible
to validate the claims of acupuncture as a healing system,
nor is there a complete understanding of exactly how
it works as an analgesic. Some researchers think its
positive effects might result from the release of endorphins,
the body’s naturally produced analgesics, triggered
by the action of the needles. Although the trigger points
for pain and for acupuncture have been labeled differently
and were discovered independently, recent research into
pain has revealed that they represent the same phenomenon
and can be explained in terms of how the nervous system
functions.)
Alexander Technique
The Alexander technique is a training process in which
a person learns to identify and change faulty posture
and movements. The goal is to free the body of muscular
tension that cause stress and fatigue by eliminating
common postural problems resulting from such habits
as slouching, holding the head in an awkward position
when talking on the telephone, or carrying a heavy bag
on the shoulder. A number of poor posture patterns are
the result of well-intentioned reminders by parents
or teachers to stand or sit up straight. Many people
respond by holding their spinal muscles in a constant
state of tension instead of aiming for a relaxed balance
of head, neck, and torso. Tight or restrictive clothing
and high heeled shoes are other common culprits that
contribute to incorrect posture and muscle tension.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is the use of oils from herbs and other
aromatic plants to achieve relaxation or relief from
a disorder. Depending upon the plant, the aromatic,
or essential, oil is extracted from the leaves, flowers,
roots, seeds, fruit, bark, or resin and then diluted
with water or an unscented oil such as jojoba. These
solutions may be massaged into skin, inhaled from steam,
added to bath water, or used in a compress.
Art Therapy
Art therapy is the use of visual arts materials to identify
and treat emotional trauma and mental disorders. By
creating images in drawings, paintings, sculptures,
and photographs, patients provide information about
suppressed feelings and buried memories that they cannot
express with words. This approach is also an important
aspect of rehabilitation programs for people who are
recovering from a stroke or an injury affecting hand
function. It can help disabled people to improve their
self-image and depressed or elderly patients to expand
their range of expression.
Ayurveda
This ancient healing system from India stresses the
mind/body relationship in the maintenance of good health.
As in other Asian medical practices, a balance of vital
energy, in this case, prana, is considered the key.
The system is based on balancing three basic life forces,
or doshas?vata, responsible for all movement in the
body; pitta, which controls digestion and energy production;
and kapha, responsible for the body’s structure and
stability. Illness occurs when any of the doshas is
out of sync; individuals must know their dominant dosha
and follow a diet and lifestyle that keeps it balanced
with the others. (Origins: Ayurveda, meaning the “science
of life and longevity” in Sanskrit, is believed to be
about 5,000 years old, predating all other medical systems.
The two classic Ayurveda textbooks are more than 2,000
years old. Charaka Samhita, named for the person who
was the ayurvedic counterpart of Hippocrates, outlines
the principles of health maintenance and treatment of
disease, and Sushruta Samhita describes elaborate surgical
procedures, including reconstructive plastic surgery,
gallbladder removal, and other operation that most people
consider modern. Ayurvedic medicine spread with the
Hindu culture to Indonesia, Tibet, and eventually to
the West, where some of its principles were picked up
by the ancient Greek physicians As Buddhism developed,
this healing system was carried to China and other Asian
countries. During the 1800s, the British banned all
ayurvedic schools in India, replacing them with Western
medical schools. For the next century, ayurvedic medicine
was relegated to folk practices in rural area. When
India regained its independence in 1947, ayurvedic schools
were again legalized. Today, there are 100 ayurvedic
schools in India, equal in number o the Western ones,
and many Indian physicians incorporate both style of
medicine into their practices. In recent years, Ayurveda
has spread to North America. There are major clinics
in the United States, and some consultation centers
exist in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa. How it works:
Ayurvedic philosophy holds that each person is born
with a particular ratio of doshas, with one dominating.
This dominant dosha determines personality type and
also influences one’s susceptibility to certain illnesses.
For example, pitta people tend to have fiery dispositions
and are prone to developing high blood pressure and
digestive disorders, so a pitta-related disease may
be treated with a bland diet and numerous herbal remedies.
Because the mind is seen as an integral force in maintaining
health and overcoming illness, meditation or yoga may
also be employed.)
Biofeedback Training
Biofeedback training allows a person to gain a measure
of control over bodily functions that are usually automatic,
or involuntary?for example, heartbeat, blood pressure,
skin temperature, blood flow to the hands and feet,
even brain-wave patterns. Some doctors believe that
the results are similar to those of self-hypnosis. Electronic
monitors used to measure these responses produce visible
or audible signals. During the training, a person learns
how to alter the electronic signals and, in the process,
change an involuntary bodily response.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a system of treatment based on the belief
that the foundation of good health is the unhampered
flow of nerve impulses that originate in the brain and
spinal cord and then travel to all parts of the body.
Therapy begins with analyzing the patient’s spinal column
for abnormal alignments of the vertebrae. When such
misalignments, called subluxations, are located, they
are corrected by manipulation to restore the normal
flow of nerve impulses. Many chiropractors also make
recommendations about nutrition and exercise, but they
do not prescribe drugs or do surgery.
Dance Therapy
Dance therapy, also called dance/movement therapy, employs
movement instead of spoken communication to treat the
mentally ill. It is also used to enrich the lives of
sightless and deaf individuals, especially children,
and can be and important aspect of rehabilitation following
a stroke or an injury that hinders motion and coordination.
Herbal Medicine
Herbal medicine is the use of plants?their leaves, stems,
bark, flowers, fruits, and seeds?to prevent or cure
disease. (Origins: The practice probably originated
in prehistoric times when humans discovered, through
trial and error, that that certain plants had healing
powers. During the ancient civilizations of China, Egypt,
Persia, and Greece, herbal remedies were codified and,
eventually, compiled into books. With the development
of chemistry and the refinement of laboratory methods,
herbal medicine gave way to the modern pharmaceutical
industry where many drugs are created in test tubes.
Still, plant-based ingredients are found in almost half
of all prescription and over-the counter medications
used in conventional medicine, including aspirin, digitalis,
and atropine, as well as several anticancer medications.
Herbal medicine in China has for centuries been a well-organized
system of knowledge based on observations, experiment,
and clinical trials, and the effectiveness of a significant
number of these remedies has been verified by modern
science. Elsewhere, the latest effort in plant codification
has been undertaken by a consortium of medical researchers,
pharmaceutical companies, and herbalists who are investigating
the flora of the rain forests in the hope of discovering
new plant sources that might yield cures for serous
diseases. How it works: Herbal medicines that bring
about a desired result are found in laboratory analyses
to contain substances that trigger specific biochemical
responses. For example, the inner bark of a certain
type of willow tree chewed by some native peoples in
North America to alleviate headaches contains salicylic
acid the active ingredient of aspirin. Some herbalists
still recommend white willow to treat pain, contending
that it is less likely to produce the adverse side effects
of aspirin. )
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is based on the theory that the cause of
an illness is similar to its cure. Thus, treatment involves
giving a small amount of a very diluted natural substance
that, if taken in larger doses, would cause the same
symptoms as the ailment itself.
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is the use of water to treat disease, alleviate
pain, induce relaxation, and maintain general good health.
For therapeutic purposes, the water may be hot or cold,
or in the form of ice or steam. Treatments include immersion
baths (usually in cool water), hot tub soaks, sitz baths
(a shortened hip bath), mud baths, steam baths, saunas,
needle showers, salt rubs, pressure hosing, hot or cold
packs, douches, and colonic irrigation (washing of the
inner wall of the large intestine). Hydrotherapy may
also take the form of drinking water that has special
qualities, such as the mineral waters offered by European
spas as an aid to digestion.
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness in which
a very highly concentrated state of attention is focused
on a specific idea or memory. The patient (or subject)
is fully awake but responds only to the therapist’s
suggestions. There is abundant empirical evidence that
hypnotherapy produces desired results for many people.
Some, however, are incapable of achieving a deep trance
state. Others can reach only a light hypnotic state
because they are unable or unconsciously unwilling to
achieve this form of total concentration.
Light Therapy
Light therapy employs either natural or artificial light
to treat various disorders, ranging from psoriasis and
other skin diseases to soft bones and seasonal affective
disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs during
the winter.
Macrobiotics
Macrobiotics is a dietary discipline based on the East
Asian concept that good health depends on establishing
a harmonious balance of the opposing life forces (yang
and yin), and that this applies to foods as well as
other aspects of life. (Origins: The regimen was developed
during the first half of the 20th century by George
Ohsawa, a Japanese philosophy student who claimed to
have cured his tuberculosis by devising a diet based
on the spiritual principles and practices of Oriental
medicine. He created the term macrobiotics, which in
Greek means “a broad view of life,” and described his
regimen in a 1920 book, A New Theory of Nutrition and
Its Therapeutic Effect. The book is now in its 700th
edition in Japan. By the time of his death in 1966,
Ohsawa had written over 300 books and had traveled throughout
the world promoting his dietary philosophy. He found
a receptive audience in the early 1960s among young
North Americans, who flocked to macrobiotic restaurants
and health food stores. How it works: Macrobiotics classifies
all foods as yang or tin instead of by nutritional content
and the designations of carbohydrate, protein, and fat.
In general, a macrobiotic diet calls for 50 to 60 percent
of calories to come from whole cereal grains, the foods
that are most balanced in yin and yang; 25 to 30 percent
from vegetables; 10 to 15 percent from beans and sea
vegetables; 5 to 10 percent from fish, shellfish, seasonal
fruits, and nuts; and 5percent from soups made with
vegetables, grains, or miso (fermented soy). The extreme
macrobiotic diets of the early 1960s were sometimes
limited to brown rice only, which is balanced in its
yin and yang qualities but is not complete nutritionally.
Those were soon abandoned when faithful followers developed
severe malnutrition. Today’s macrobiotic diet is similar
to many vegetarian regimens, especially those that eschew
milk and eggs but allow inclusion of seafood.)
Massage
In therapeutic massage, touch is used to induce relaxation
and promote well-being. Though there are many forms
of the practice, all employ systematic stroking, rubbing,
pressing, kneading, or thumping of the skin, muscles,
and joints. Massage is also combined sometimes with
other techniques, especially aroma and water therapies.
Meditation
Meditation is a mental discipline that is aimed at achieving
complete relaxation. It is often promoted as an alternative
to tranquilizers and painkillers in the management of
emotional stress and physical pain.
Music Therapy
In this treatment, music and rhythm are used to improve
physical and psychological functioning and provide an
alternative means of communication fro persons who are
unable to put their feelings or thought into words.
Naturopathy and Natural
Healing
Naturopathy is based on natural means of healing diseases.
Its practitioners often employ the entire spectrum of
alternative therapies. Instead of conventional drugs,
for example, they may choose from among herbal medicines,
homeopathic remedies, nutrition and diet therapy, acupuncture,
hydrotherapy, and physical therapy. Naturopaths describe
themselves as holistic practitioners who rely heavily
on patient counseling and education. They also include
among their treatments some practices of conventional
medicine. For instance, they many use diathermy (a form
of electrotherapy) for backaches. Many practitioners
are also trained in techniques of behavior modification,
such as biofeedback and hypnosis; other offer massage
and other therapies for stress management.
Nutrition Therapy
Nutrition therapy is based on the premise that diet
in general or certain vitamins and minerals in particular
can prevent or cure disease. Practices range from simply
eating a balanced diet to maintain good health to taking
megadoses of vitamins and/or minerals to ward off disease
or treat mental illness. A growing body of scientific
evidence indicates that nutrition is even more important
in preventive medicine than previously thought. But
the majority of doctors and nutritionists still stress
that fro most people, a varied diet?low in fat and sugar,
high in fiber and starches, and low enough in calories
to maintain ideal weight?will suffice.
Pet Therapy
Pet therapy promotes human well-being through bonding
with and animal, most often a cat, dog, or other household
pet.
Spiritual Healing
Spiritual healing is the curing of disease through powers
outside the limits of medical intervention. It is based
on the concept that whatever one truly believes can
be made to happen.
Yoga and Other Movement
Therapies
Movement therapies employ structured exercise regimens
and mental discipline to achieve both physical and emotional
health. They range from the gentle approaches of yoga
and t’ai chi to the more vigorous movements of aerobics
and such martial arts as karate. They also include physical
therapy. Yoga emphasizes meditation, deep breathing,
and prescribed body position and movements. The martial
arts incorporate meditation and structured movement
as well, but the emphasis is more on self-control and
self-defense. Despite the military aspects of these
disciplines, they are rooted in nonviolence, with the
goal of achieving mental and physical health. Aerobic
conditioning has the additional aim of improving cardiovascular
function, and physical therapy seeks to prevent or treat
musculoskeletal problems. (Reader’s Digest Association
(Canada) Ltd., 1996)
Once again, naming our
medicine is a sensitive matter. It can’t be done with
shallow understanding and knowledge of the field. Here,
we have just taken a peek at some possibilities. But
as more information is gathered on this subject, the
more one feels that there are innumerous dark horses
out there. Much as we know of various approaches on
our body today, there is much, much more to learn and
explore. And introduce. Especially, Korean medicine
has a much brighter and open future. Our job isn’t choosing
among the already tried-on names, it is to create one!
--staff member Kwon
Hyo Jung (Jamy)
**I have used a quote
from one of the essays by D.H. Lawrence, one of my favorite
novelists, to emphasize what we are fundamentally getting
at. Medicine. Western or Eastern, conventional or traditional,
there may be numerous identifications, but we are focusing
on "Medicine", the great, beautiful field
that is associated with our precious bodies. We Oriental
Medical Doctors (O.M.D.) vow the Hippocrates oath of
its own too. And to doctors all over the world, life
is the most important subject. We are only “swaying
about a great center of balance.”
It's been great to research
materials and interview experts for this article. For
the whole vacation, with on-line meetings with other
staff members, it has given us a chance to think again
about Korean Medicine. Maybe it's too soon to reach
a conclusion and write about it, but we hope this article
can provide insights to people who have interest in
Korean Medicine, or just medicine itself.
--staff member Ko Byung-eun
<Bibliography>
* Chun Chang-sun, &
Oeh, Yoon-hyoung: Road to YinYang and Five Phases p
150, Segii
* Altenberg, H.E. (1992).
Holistic Medicine. Tokyo and New York: Japan Publications,
Inc.
* Credit, L.P., &
Hartunian, S.G., & Nowak, M.J. (1998). Your Guide
to Complementary Medicine. Garden City, New York: Avery
Publishing Group.
* The Reader’s Digest
Association (Canada) Ltd. (1996). Guide to Medical Cures
& Treatments. Montreal: Author.
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