Traditional Medicine in Asia

K
oryo Medicine, the nation’s traditional
medicine and precious medical
heritage, has contributed to the health
promotion of the people and treatment of
diseases for thousands of years.
Existing historical works record that in
the 5–7th century BC famous Korean
doctors were sent for treating the elite on
the invitation of the neighbouring kings.
Korean acupuncture specialists crossed
over to Japan and taught acupuncture
skills and trained expatriate trainees in our
country. This makes it clear that in those
days our Koryo Medicine was of a very high
quality.
Theories of Koryo Medicine were
systematized through clinical practices and
experiences and, whether big or small, were
integrated and published by contemporary
medical scientists. These have been preserved
and handed down from generation to
generation and are even now considered
as valuable references in the field of Koryo
Medicine.
For example, “Uibangryuchui’’ (Medical
Encyclopaedia), a world-famous work
published in 1443, is an unparalleled
masterpiece and consisted of 366 volumes.
A prominent Japanese medical historian,
Mikisake, highly praised Uibangryuchui as
the foremost world medical encyclopaedia
Koryo medicine in Korea
Koryo medicine of Korea
Choe Thae Sop
not found anywhere else.
Although various kinds of theories and
therapies of Koryo Medicine such as drug
prescription, acupuncture and moxibustion
have many advantages, (some legendary
and non-scientific) scientifically planned
clinical trials have been carried out to
validate the claim of Koryo medicine. Koryo
medicine products can be combined with
allopathic medicine treatment.
DPRK has a well-knit Koryo medical
service system. In the Ministry of Public
Health, Koryo Medicine Guiding Section
gives guidance on traditional medical
services. At the Central level there is a
General Hospital of Koryo Medicine; all of
the 12 provinces have Koryo medicine
hospitals, and each city and county hospital
has a Koryo treatment department.
All the Koryo Medicine institutions in
DPRK are State-owned.
Basic research is also being carried out
on Koryo medicine – these include
identification of the components of herbal
medicine, pharmacology of herbs, the
principles of meridian practices and
acupuncture, and clinical trials with herbal
drugs – in combination as well as singly.
The following table gives an idea of the
extent of services under Koryo medicine in
the country.
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