1. Introduction

The term "Eastern Medicine" signifies a particular medical field developed and practiced by easterners which is in sharp contrast to the western (modern) medicine practiced in many countries of the world.

Eastern and Western medicine were developed through different philosophies of different cultural backgrounds. They look at health, diseases and causes of diseases in different ways. The theoretical basis of Eastern (traditional) medicine is too difficult to accept from the viewpoint of western medicine. As it is not considered to have a scientific basis, most medical doctors trained in western medical schools reject knowledge of traditional medicine. Since the introduction of materialistic western medicine based on positive and scientific analysis in the 19th century, there has been a decline in the use of traditional medicine. However, people are having more and more interest in Eastern medicine. Moreover, Eastern medicine has undoubtedly been practiced for a very long time with positive results and has played an important role in promoting health and preventing diseases in modern health care.

The successful combination of East-West medicines needs careful planning involving identification of needs and resources, solution of existing problems, development and implementation of positive policy, and development of a workable unified medical care with mutual respect, recognition and collaboration.

I would like to deal with the present status of the combination of Eastern and western medicine in Korea, and review particularly the characteristics of the East-West medical center at Kyunghee university medical center.

2. Differences between Eastern Medicine and Western Medicine

It is true that Eastern and western medicine have their unique theoretical back grounds and methods of clinical practices. Anatomy, physiology, pathology, diagnostics and therapeutic approaches are entirely different from each other. Western medicine, which belong to natural science, look into and explains the structural and functional phenomena of the human body by means of materialistic and analytical approaches, while Eastern medicine strives to do the same thing through psycho-metaphysical and integral approaches. Eastern medicine is philosophical, individual, subjective, integrated and holistic medicine, while western medicine is scientific, mechanical, objective and analytical. If Eastern medicine lacks scientific methodology, western medicine lacks philosophical understanding of human and nature. However, both of them deal with the same subject - human being. The ultimate goals of both Eastern medicine and western medicine are the same; to achieve promotion in health and quality of life through medical care.

3. Eastern Medical system in Korea

Even though Korea with a history of about 5,000 years, was influenced early on by China, it can be said that Korean Eastern medicine originated from the myth of Tan-gun. In the 17th century, a royal physician by the name of Dr. Heo Jun wrote Dongeuibogam, the first encyclopedia of Eastern medicine in Korea. It remains to be a great book of medical practices for Eastern medical doctors today. Dr. Yi Jema in 1901 at the end of the Joseon era published Tongeuisusebowon on the basis of the "theory of four Constitutions" (Taeyangin, Taeumin, Soyangin and Soeumin). In 1952, the national medical law was established and the Eastern medical system came to be accepted as health care system. So, an inclusive medical system with dual medical system began. Under Korean medical law, Eastern medical doctors must only use Eastern medicine and western medical doctors only western medicine. College of Eastern medicine was 4-year course until the 1960s. But today there are 11 colleges of Eastern medicine offering a regular 6-year course. With graduation, students take national examination for Eastern Medical doctor's license. Graduate schools of Eastern Medicine runs a program for master's and doctoral degrees. Graduates planning to be specialists may apply for a four-year training course(internship and residentship) at hospitals with such training programs.

4. Eastern Medicine and Kyunghee University

Fifty years ago, Dr. Choue Young-Seek founded Kyunghee university with the goal of achieving good human welfare and reconstruction of human society. In 1966, Kyunghee university established a medical education complexes with three colleges: western medicine, Eastern medicine and dentistry with a view to fostering a harmonious coexistence of the three branches of medical fields. In 1971, Kyunghee university medical center was built and Dr. Choue advocated earlier creating "the Third Medicine" as a new therapeutic medicine based on the mutual respect between Eastern and western medicine, each supplementing the other's strength and weakness. Kyunghee university is the center of a "Third Medicine" as it has been successful in combining the East-West medical practices and continuing to share its knowledge in order to contribute to the prosperity of the human race and the attainment of human dignity. Combined medical personnel of Eastern and western medicine in Kyunghee university medical center have been studying in many fields. There are, however, two different views to this: positive in that the medical system should be for the good of patients, and negative in that the effects of the combination still has to be thought over. It is all the more meaningful for the fact that the provider-oriented medical trend has changed into a receiver-oriented one. If a new treatment model is proposed, with advantages from the two medicines, we will be able to provide the most economic and effective medical service through the combination of Eastern and western medicine.

5. Present status of the combination of Eastern and Western Medicine in Korea

5-1. Present status of Eastern medical hospitals

As in June 2001, there are a total of 93 Eastern medical hospitals in Korea. Of these, larger Eastern medical hospitals with more than 100 beds number up to 11 (11.8%), and ones with less than 99 beds number up to 37 (39.9%). There are 45 Eastern medical hospitals that has less than 69 beds that compose 48.3% of the total.

There were 5 Eastern medical hospitals opened in the 1970s, including the hospital of Eastern medicine, Kyunghee University. After 1990, with medical insurance coming into wide use, positive recognition towards Eastern medicine, and increase in GDP all contributed in the increase in medical demands, which lead to the opening of 77 more Eastern medical hospitals.

5-2. Hospitals providing both Eastern and Western Medicine

Of 93 Eastern medical hospitals in Korea, 70 of them took into consideration for the research on the combination of Eastern and western medicine. From 23 affiliated hospitals of college of Eastern medicine, and 26 Eastern medical hospitals, only 22 affiliated hospitals of college of Eastern medicine and 19 Eastern medical hospitals that total up to 41 were researchable. As a result, with exception of only one Eastern medical hospital, all the other Eastern medical hospitals provided medical services based on the combination of East-West medicine.

There were 15 hospitals (31.9%) that co-diagnosed with other hospitals, and 25 hospitals (51.0%) that co-diagnosed with local clinics.

5-3. Faculty and facility

18 Eastern medical hospitals co-diagnosed with local clinics, which consists of 1 doctor, and 6 Eastern medical hospitals, with local clinics of 2 doctors. 60% of the total consisted of Eastern medical hospitals that co-diagnosed with local clinics of less than 2 doctors.

From 62 doctors that co-diagnosed with Eastern medical hospitals, 16 specialists on internal organs, 12 specialists on family medicine, 9 specialists on radiology, and 8 specialists on rehabilitation. Some clinics co-diagnosed with general practitioners, instead of medical specialists.

In some Eastern medical hospitals 3 doctors were in one clinic providing medical services at 33 co-diagnosis clinics, including the East-West general health diagnosis center.

Except for the Kyunghee university East-West medical center, most of co-diagnosing Eastern medical hospitals did not have any special spaces or facilities for the combination of East-West medicines. Most Eastern medical hospitals has western medical clinics within the Eastern medical hospital or near it, so as to enable patients to be co-diagnosed. Postpartum clinic at the Bundang-Cha hospital runs a clinic with special space for co-diagnosis, so that co-diagnosing doctors treat the patients efficiently.

5-4. Practical supplementation of East-West medicines

From researching Eastern medical hospitals with more than 70 beds in the nation for the condition of the combination of East-West medicines, all Eastern medical hospitals except for one provided medical service based on co-diagnosis of East-West medicines.

This, in part, comes from the high expectation of patients on the effectiveness of the treatments based on the combination of East-West medicines, and the high satisfaction of patients on the treatments. However, looking this from the Eastern medical hospitals' point of view, where co-diagnosis is being provided, this method of co-diagnosing is, in some parts, likely to be for complementing the limits of Eastern medical services, that are recognized as medical treatments under current medical laws. This comes from the fact that Eastern medical hospitals that provide co-diagnostic services also need doctor's orders for each and every treatment or inspection in the process. Each medical center providing co-diagnostic services should put more efforts on preparing special ward for co-diagnosis to minimize the hardships of the patients.

6-1. The combination of East-West medicines is a future medical science

Kyunghee university medical center opened in 1971 as a general medical center which embraces 3 affiliated hospitals - western, Eastern, and dental to provide a total medical care using the integrated approach. The aim of medical care service is to complement each other between Eastern medicine and western medicine and also to foster a close cooperation between the two in order to improve diagnosis and care for patients in the Korean situation. Thus, the Kyunghee university medical center has an advantage to investigate causes of untreatable ailment and treatment methods using the two systems of medicine available in one premises.

For the realization of this aim, the East-West medical center at Kyunghee university has been putting efforts on interactive researches of East-West medicines, creation of new models for co-diagnosis, and the development of new medications leading to fast and economic medical services for the patients. For 30 years of practice after the opening, East-West medical center at Kyunghee university has been researched and tested of on the medical effectiveness, which was partially achieved through increased understanding between the two medicines.

It is still insufficient legally or systematically but the East-West medical center at Kyunghee university is doing its best for the creation of new medicine (Kyunghee medicine or the Third Medicine), overcoming the limits of modern medicine. This special co-diagnostic medical service provided at the hospital is known as the new system with effective treatments under the comfortable and enjoyable medical atmosphere, leading to satisfactions of the patients.

6-2. Kyunghee University Medical Center will lead the combination of East-West medicines

The history of East-West medical center at Kyunghee university is itself the history of medical co-diagnosis in Korea. It has actually been very rare for the Eastern and western medicine to cooperate with each other medically primarily because of their different theoretical and therapeutic back grounds. However, Kyunghee university medical center did a lot for this: appendectomy through a sole acupuncture anesthesia in 1972, foundation of East-West cancer center, and East-West postpartum care clinic, paricipation of Eastern medical doctors in the treatment on inpatients at orthopedic department, and acupuncture practice in dental hospital, and opening of East-West general health center, which all made possible the combination of East-West medicines.

Through these processes, we could verify the medical effectiveness and the possibility as a special field of study on the combination of East-West medicines. Starting in 1998 with opening of East-West kidney center, East-West spine center, and East-West arthritis center opened in 1999. In May 2000, East-West medical center opened with 60 medical professionals, including western, Eastern medical doctors and dentists with clinical space of 327 Pyeong (1080x). Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the university hospital in October 2001, 47 national/international studies dealing with the combination of East-West medicines with the subject of "Cooperation of East-West medicines in the 21st century" were submitted.

<Biref history of the combination of East-West medicines at Kyunghee University Medical Center>

Feb 4, 1971: Foundation of East-West medical research center

Sept 9, 1972: First appendectomy through sole acupuncture anesthesia in the world

Sept 26, 1973: Success in odentectomy through auricular acupuncture

Mar 22, 1976: Success in cesarean section through acupuncture anesthesia

Apr 6, 1979: The 1st ISOM symposium in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Kyunghee university

Feb 20, 1981: Success in producing interferon, and medication for cancer by East-West medical research center (first manufacture in Korea)

Sept 1, 1995: Opening of East-West general health diagnosis center

Aug 13, 1997: Relieving post-operation pain through acupuncture anesthesia and treatment of xerostomia through acupuncture anesthesia

Aug 5, 1998: Opening of East-West kidney center

Sept 1, 1999: Combination of East-West emergency rooms, and foundation of East-West medical graduate school

May 17 2000: General opening ceremony of East-West medical center

Oct 5, 2001: Symposium in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Kyunghee university hospital on "The Cooperation of East-West medicines in the 21st century"

Nov 21, 2001: Visit from Dr. Brundtland, director-general of WHO at East-West medical center

6-3. The combination of East-West medical center is specialized and differentiated.

Kyunghee East-West medical center has a total of 15 specialized medical clinics. Each and every clinic treats according to different categories from other medical clinics. Medical professionals in charge are also the all specialists on each related disease from western, Eastern medicine or dental hospital. Kyunghee East-West medical center runs under the system where a western doctor and an Eastern medical doctor form a group to co-diagnosis in the same place. This makes possible the effective co-diagnosis from western and Eastern medical doctors, which leads to high percentage of therapeutic effects and emotional relief to the patients through positively high expectation on the treatments.

East-West Medical Center at Kyunghee University Medical Center

6-4. East-West medical center is effective and comfortable.

In Kyunghee univerity East-West medical center, the patient does not have to move around places to be co-diagnosed. In general, most of the people take co-diagnosis of East-West medicines as being treated in the Eastern medical hospital and then being moved to a western medical hospital, or vise versa. But this is just "moving", which is not the true meaning of the combination of East-West medicines.

Patients can meet both Eastern and western medical doctors at Kyunghee East-West medical center in one room. Both doctors participate from the beginning in consulting and treating the patient. They both consider seriously whether the patient should be co-diagnosed, or treated with one or both medicines, which Eastern or western medical treatment is better for the patient, and whether hospitalization is needed or not. Especially, the payment doesn't double only because it is based on co-diagnosis of two doctors, but same with other Eastern or western medical hospitals, so patients can get co-diagnosis and treatments economically and comfortably.

6-5. East-West medical center is getting attention with Kyunghee medicine.

The most astonishing characteristics of Kyunghee univerity East-West medical center are that outstanding specialists from western and Eastern medical hospitals participate for the co-diagnosis. All the participating doctors make up a team according to their speciality and co-diagnose under East-West medical clinics, which leads to fusion treatments from correlation and understandings of each other. From profound clinical experiences of the combination of East-West medicines, Kyunghee university East-West medical center is proposing a development of a new treatment model based on objective evaluation. The hospital systems concerning the combination of East-West medicines also work to minimize the economic burden of the patients. Problems on treatments or payments are adjusted for the patients to be provided with the most comfortable and effective co-diagnostic medical service.

6-5-1. Therapeutic results at East-West Arthritis center

For references, from the survey on patients who were co-diagnosed by Dr. Yang's team of East-West joint/rheumatoid center from June to September 2001, each question on the survey proved to be very positive. This study was aimed to exam of therapeutic effects and self-satisfaction effects of combined therapy of western and Eastern medicine in arthritis patients. 119 patients were examined by interview or telephone interview fore self-information and analyzed self-satisfaction to combined therapy and past medical history. Most patients were females, composing 84.9% (101 cases) of all patients. The ages of the patients were between 30s to 50s which was the same as usual arthritis patients. 46.2% of them was degenerative arthritis, 29.4% rheumatoid arthritis and others were ankylosing spondylitis and fibromyalgia in that order. Most commonly involved joint area was knee joint (67.2%) and wrist joint came after with 36%. Because these joints area are frequently involved in osteoarthritis, which are frequently used joint and weight bearing joint, involvement of these joint may as well result in inconvenience in everyday life for arthritis patients. Duration of the disease was between one year to two years (39.0%). 52.0% of the patients who were treated by combined therapy of western and Eastern medicine showed better and earlier effectiveness with lower side effects (79.8% of reduction) than previous treatments. 79.8% of the patients will recommend this combined therapy to other arthritis patients because they thought that this combined therapy was the most effective treatment and had lesser side effects in their experiences. Confidence in staff (western doctors, Eastern doctors, nurses, physical therapists, officers, and nutritional consultants) lead to satisfaction in 91.5% of the patients. Satisfaction for therapeutic environment (facilities, convenience for visiting equipments, sanitation, cost, etc) was answered by 75.6% as satisfied. It suggests that this center needs to more facilities and expenses. 84.8% of them had a self-confidence in front of various troubles in their daily living after this combined therapy. This combined therapy was very effective in arthritis-control and it helped upgrade the quality of life for patients. Therefore we can suggest that the combined therapy will make patients with chronic arthritis and disabilities more active in everyday life and social works. This shows that the combination of East-West medicines (Kyunghee medicine) will be to the expectations of the patients with high possibility of developments.

6-5-2. Therapeutic results at Neuroscience Center

Here is another example that proves the effectiveness of East-West co-diagnosis. For references, from the survey on patients with cerebral infarction who were co-diagnosed by Dr. Song's team of East-West Neuroscience center from April to August 2001, each question on the survey proved to be very positive. The purpose of this study is to find out whether the East (especially Sasang Constitutional therapy)-West integrated therapy for stroke inpatient is more effective than the single neurological therapy. And especially they plan to elevate the objectivity in the evaluation of acute stroke patients, adding the Sasang Constitutional Symptomatic scale to he Neurological evaluation. They applied case-control study. The East-West integrated therapy group is the Taeumin stroke inpatients who were in Kyunghee Eastern medical hospital from April 1, 2001 to August 31, 2001 and receive East (especially Sasang Constitutional therapy)-West integrated therapy. The number of patients in the east-west integrated therapy group was 29. The neurological therapy group is the Taeumin stroke inpatients who were in the Kyunghee medical center during the same period but who didn't receive Eastern medical therapy and the number of patients in the neurological therapy group is 17. They compared the total score of the Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) and the Sasang Constitutional Symptomatic Scale (SCSS) of the two groups at admission, after 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks. In the Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS), the total score of East-West integrated therapy group increased significantly after 1 week, and Neurological therapy group, after 2 weeks. In the SSS, within 3 weeks from admission, there was no significant difference in total score between the two groups. In the Sasang Constitutional Stroke Scale (SCSS), after 2 and 3 weeks the East-West integrated therapy group had fewer numbers of problems than neurological therapy group. In management of stroke, East (Sasang Constitutional Medicine)-West(neurologic medicine) integrated therapy was more effective than the single neurological therapy, and application of sasang Constitutional Symptomatic scale to neurological evaluating method could elevate the objectivity in the elevation of acute stroke patient.

7. New Prospective East-West Medicines as a Third Medicine

The changing world also challenges us to make any possible mobilization in East-West medicines to bring the wisdom of the old to meet the new requirements of human health.

Eastern medicine or combination with other conventional therapy as East-West medicines will be selectively used according to the efficacy and will further contribute to provide a new theoretical and practical guide to the promotion of health and the treatment of diseases in the future.

At this moment, in which we need both harmonization and cooperation between East-West medicines, it is highly in demand to introduce the uniqueness and advantages of East-West medicines to the rest of the world.