Korean Job Discussion Forums

[liftn]

anyone use one in korea with any pos. results? Got a prolonged back problem that wont go away

[oldfatfarang]

I'd be cautious.

I once had a co-teacher who had a car accident. She got accumpuncture (chim) for her back pain. It didn't work, and she was in constant pain. She turned into the meanest ............. I've ever met. Chim didn't work for her.

I just met my mates girlfriend (who'd had chim for her knee problems). She was limping like hell, and in pain - so no cure there either.

Caution .... and good luck.

[captain kirk]

When I first went to Korea ('95) I was coming from Canada where I got weekly needles from a Chinese accupuncurist (Beijing Medical college). He'd put the needles in fast as lightning, 15min, revisit and twist 'em, 15min, out they go and done. Well once in Kwangju a Kcoteacher directed me to a Korean accupuncturist. He went to town actually stabbing and jabbing with the same needle. Of course I was twitching all over the place wondering WTF is this sadistic whack-quack doing? I figured it had something to do with Koreans, as I later found out, loving injections/not afraid of needles. And Koreans having a high tolerance for pain (watch a Korean toddler face-plant on the sidewalk, no tears whatsoever). I'm sure I probably met up with bizarre fate walking into that clinic and that there are Korean accupuncturists who aren't out to get you. It WAS cheap. A lot of Korean old folks w/no money head into accupuncture. By the way have you seen in the Tapkgol pagoda park downtown Seoul the free handneedles given to old folks. Hands full of needles like porcupines, bizarre.

[Steve_Rogers2008]

nothin' like the power of positive thinking, which is pretty much what the witch-doctor medicines provide...

between the faces of terrified kids having been poked by them, and having hot rocks dropped on their arms, I have a hard time believing in the efficacy of any of it beyond the placebo effect.


Even a Korean teacher I respected was doubtful of the medical helpfulness of it, but went with it because it was 'expected.' But the placebo effect can't be discounted. look into it if ya want. But don't be surprised by it's results.

[b0101]

I've had great luck with it for headaches, especially ones that lasted that medication didn't help. If I have a headache for more than a few days or a really severe one this is my treatment of choice.

Don't know how it would work for back pain or other things though. Tried it for an ankle once and didn't feel like that was helpful at all...

[mc_jc]

There was a good place in Bogwangdong near Itaewon that was really good. I went to one for severe stomach problems that the 121 General Hospital couldn't cure. After 3 months using acupuncture- my stomach felt fine. The only thing I didn't like was their herbal medicine- yuck!


But yeah, Chinese medicine is not a regulated medical practice in Korea, so beware.

[taobenli]

I went for acupuncture in the US a few years back when I had severe back pain (not a chronic condition, but pain because I had suddenly thrown something out of whack). It was an American doing the acupuncture but he had trained in China and it was in the Chinese acupuncture style. It worked amazingly well and I was sold on acupuncture. However, the Korean style is a bit different. I've been getting acupuncture for a skin problem and it seems to be helping (is also very cheap) but can't be sure how much is due to the acupuncture because I'm doing other procedures as well.

I think it can't hurt to try acupuncture, but just choose your practitioner well and ask around for recommendations.

[LivePoetry]

[quote="mc_jc"]There was a good place in Bogwangdong near Itaewon that was really good. I went to one for severe stomach problems that the 121 General Hospital couldn't cure. After 3 months using acupuncture- my stomach felt fine. The only thing I didn't like was their herbal medicine- yuck!


Could you tell me the name of the place you are talking about and any other info you can about it? I am also having severe stomach problems in Korea and acupuncture has worked great for me in the past. I'd be interested to check this place out.

thank you!

[ajosshi]

[RMNC]

[mmstyle]

RMNC, that's hilarious. I don't care is someone calls it a placebo effect though...as long as I am not in pain. For the record, Elvis is dead (well, one of my coworkers calls himself Elvis, so even that...), I don't believe in the Lochness monster, or colorful stones. A do wonder why you would ask about delusional thinking in god's name though (personally, I don't care if you do believe in god, as long as you don't knock on my door and want me to talk about it).

Actually, I haven't had acupuncture cure anything, but stimulating muscles and nerves in that fashion has brought me a lot of pain relief. I'll take that over potentially addictive medicines for pain any day.

Cupping ("buhang" in Korean, I believe) helps me too. Kyunghee Medical Center at Hoegi station has a department you can go to, and 1 or more doctors who speak English quite well.

[RMNC]

Fools and their money are easily parted, even in the 21st century. And I don't believe in deities, for the record, or any other pseudo-science or religion.

Have you tried bloodletting? I hear it does great things for the skin.

[Chalmers]

ive had great results from acupuncture. i went to a place a coworker recommended and it is amazing for back pain. just make sure you go to a reputable place, ask around you can find one.

[Ninjaniki]

Yes, last year I went to Beijing with my family. While I was there I got a foot massage. The woman doing the massage dug deep into my foot. When I came back to Korea I was in so much pain for about 3 months. I couldn't get out of bed and stand up. I felt pain every time I walked around. I told my coteacher and she took me to a regular doctor. He gave me useless x-rays and told me to put some heat on my feet and the pain would go away in 2 weeks, but it never did. So I asked my coteacher to take me to an oriental doctor. My first session was painful but it reduced the pain by about 75%. So it really helped. I went a month later for more therapy, and after that the pain totally disappeared. So, it worked like magic. It was about 4,000 won per session.
It's been around for thousands of years so they're doing something right.

[sadguy]

it worked for me with headaches.

i also have sports related lower back pain. it didn't help for that, but the chiropractor did.

and rmnc, placebo effect is strong my friend. the simple fact of going to a doctor helps people.