“He Or She Who Gives a Disease, Then Gives Medicine”

병 주고 약 주고

Cartoon courtesy of ndquangr.wordpress.com

There are times when it is not clear whether a person beside you is a friend or an enemy because he or she gives disease, then the medicine. One day, he could say horrible things atto you or talk to your boss about your mistakes. On the other day, he might just be a good man and then buy you presents, encouraging you with warm words. You might think, “What is the matter with him? One day he has bullied me and now he is being so kind!” In Korea, people sa this month’s Korean saying. as a meaning that the person is playing a game with you and not being sincere.

Other times, the proverb is used to describe a ridiculous situation. If you say you are on a diet and your friend brings you first to a family restaurant and then buys you a running machine, that situation gives someone a disease, then medicine. Either way, giving both diseases and medicine is an annoying situation.

All diseases needs medicine, so what kind of particular medicines do Koreans use for actual afflictions? These days, standard medicine is a tablet containing antibiotics and other artificial treatment materials. However, many Koreans still have faith in their traditional medicine called 한약 (Han-Yak) and concurrently utilize it with Western techniques. Instead of targeting the total cure of a particular disease, traditional Korean medicine promotes continued well-being (health). Korean treatment has proven that stabilizing the patient’s mental state is more effective than using any Western techniques.

There are several kinds of treatments used in traditional Korean medicine.  Herbal medicine is a liquid or powder extract of dried or fresh flowers, mushrooms, shrubs, trees, fungus and sometimes even deer antlers. Herbal medicines are prepared in infusions where these herbs are soaked in water for a long period of time. Sometimes, the doctor suggests patient’s direct involvement in making the medicine as he or she believes that the intellectual and emotional attentions can be better for the patient’s health.

Another famous method is acupuncture, which is a method of withdrawing blood from specific pressure points to stimulate the flow of vital energy (so called Qi). Other methods of stimulating Qi include moxibustion, which is a method used to apply heat to pressure points using a stick or a cone of burning mugwort without hurting the patient, and meditation, concentrating on a single word or thought to relax and calm oneself.