Korean Job Discussion Forums

[seoulsister]

I used to have any medicines I needed sent from home. Now that I've been here a while I've found most things I need to be available at the local pharmacy. Let's share any info we have on meds.

CANKER SORES/MOUTH ULCERS

At home I used something called Bonjela.
Here I have found:

--> Aftach 아프타치 (manufactured by: Teijin)
They are little round tabs that you stick over the sore, it creates a covering over it so that it doesn't sting.

-->Oramedy 오라메디 (manufactured by: Dongkook Pharm Co)
An ointment that tastes pretty bad but also creates a covering, with a little numbing sensation thrown in.

-->알보칠 (Albochil?) (manufactured by Altana Pharma AG-Germany)
Comes in a small glass bottle. It's black like iodine. Use a Q-tip to coat the sore with it. It stings really bad at first but I think this is my favorite remedy of the 3, it seems to heal really fast, and after the initial stinging sensation you can't feel it at all.

[maeil]

For the ladies..

Mercilon 피임약 (pi-im-yak: birth control). No more pimples, no more cramps, over the counter - excellent!

[Swiss James]

those brown bottles that are available in all of the convenience stores are a nice general tonic.

The best one is called Vita500

[billybrobby]

I love drinking those little brown bottles from the convenience store. They make me feel refreshed and ready to take on the day. But the best brand is NOT Vita500. That's a cheap brand. Splurge a little and get BACCHUS-F. After all, it's your health.

[Swiss James]

with all due respect "Billy", bacchus-f smells like an ash tray and gives you ball cancer.

I stand by what I said.

Vita500 is the only logical choice.

[billybrobby]

Vita500? Are you really serious? I don't know if you took the time to read the labels on those drinks (maybe because you DON'T know Korean) but bacchus-f has like 3 times more well-being herbs than Vita500. So while your slurping down those 3 bottles, I'll already be on my way to having a fantastic, energy-filled day.

[Swiss James]

Yes I'm quite sure all of your Korean knowledge helped you whilst you were slumped in a hospital bed, with a bag full of saline solution dripping into your filthy catheter.

I would not be in any way surprised if your huge bacchus-f habit (8 bottles a day isn't it?) didn't contribute to, if not directly cause your appendicitis.

Meanwhile I haven't had a day's sickness since 1997, and was told only yesterday that I look "quite well".

Thankyou Vita500- you can keep your nicotine riddled poison.

[billybrobby]

First of all, it wasn't appendicitis, it was something much more dire that would have felled a lesser man. Fortunately my body was fortified by a burst of Bacchus-F energy that the doctors credit with saving my life. And the SMALL amount of nicotine that it provides makes me feel smooth and relaxed whilst the 4 different types of ginseng keep my humors and biles balanced.

Unlike Vita500 which makes me retch and frankly, gives a bad name to the whole small brown bottle energy drink industry.

[Swiss James]

You're stepping dangerously close to slander with some of the things you are saying about Vita500.

I have seen scientific studies published by top experts at the presigious Seoul National University which confirm the life upgrade properties advertised by the Vita corporation, so if you choose to believe all of the snake-oil mumbo jumbo that goes with the whole Bacchus F (F for fools) concept, than that's your business - but I'll stick with Dr Hwang's findings.

[billybrobby]

You only drink Vita500 because your energy drink of choice isn't available here.

[Swiss James]

I only drink that because of its delightful cherry tang.

(plus, it's low-carb)

[eamo]

Which medicines do I recommend??

Well, I do enjoy robust health but sometimes I get jock-itch. I use Endix for that. You could try that. I recommend it.

I use two advil for hangovers. It usually takes care of the head area. I recommend them. Try those.

If I find out about any other good medicines in Korea I'll be sure to let you know.

[JeJuJitsu]

[marcus61]

Hi; I;ve been here a year now with my other half... When we first got here, I came down with some disgusting lurgy that after several trips to the "doctor" turned out to be pneumonia. The medications I was prescribed did nothing. I had to resort to asking the folks back home to send me some proper medication... I got so bad that I ended up in the "hospital" with a drip in my arm, which helped only a little.

I can recommend two candies you can get over the counter.. namely, SORESH for a bad throat, they have anaesthetic, so they numb the pain. The other one is ROBITUSSIN as a cough supressant, but you can't take them and expect to get better, they might help you to get a little sleep at night.

Hope this helps..

PS. I'm in good health now (thankfully) and I remember reading in the Korean Herald some time ago, that some of those vitamin c drinks can cause cancer, well,, there's lead in the Kimchi from China and 160,000 (yes) Koreans die every year from air pollution, (Korean Herald, September 12) etc etc etc...what are ya gonna do??? :

[Demophobe]

Benzene.

A common ingredient found in almost all Vitamin C drinks in Korea.

Enjoy Kwang Dong Pharm Co.'s Vita 500....it's one of the few 'good' ones.