Acupuncture in Korea

Acupuncture in Korea

Okay. I started this review blog for two reasons.  First to be able  to put my product reviews out in one place for people to get open and honest reviews of products.  The second reason was to be able to help others out when living and traveling overseas.  Well this post is for the latter.

As soon as I moved to Korea I wanted to try out traditional Oriental medicine.  I had heard how inexpensive it is over here and that it is used regularly to help all sorts of aches, pains, and medical problems. I had researched and have found that  modern Western medical studies have found that there are benefits to traditional Oriental medicine.  Notably in the area of back pain, migraines, and sinus issues.  There is a whole host of treatments that the doctors perform from acupuncture to herbs.  As I hold my stress and tension in my shoulders and upper back and I teach high schoolers English I understandably quickly had big knots in my shoulders.  I asked around if anyone had ever been to a traditional doctor and no one(foreigners) that I spoke with had been but everyone seemed interested.  I looked up reviews, how to find a place, and the procedure and there is not a lot of information out there.  A couple blog posts but that's it.  So here is mine.

A friend had noticed a shop that does traditional medicine in Munson and I finally just wandered in one afternoon.  So just look for a sign that says Traditional Oriental Medicine or Traditional Korean Medicine.   Usually there is a round sign in green that says that.   Every city, town, and village has at least a couple if you look around.   My Korean is non-existent, please keep that in mind.  I just kinda walked into this office above a Baskin Robbins and took off my shoes and shuffled to the reception desk.  The lady asked something in Korean.  Most likely 'Do you speak Korean?' I shook my head and she sighed.....   I motioned to my shoulders and she asked 'pain?'  yes, I replied.  The Doctor came into the lobby and asked what my problem (in slow English) was and I again pointed to my shoulder and said 'pain.' They asked for my ID card and I handed over my ARC(Alien Registration Card) or my Insurance card.  They took my information and ushered me into another room.

Acupuncture in Korea

There were several beds all curtained off in a room and I was shown to one.  As it was warmish I was wearing something with a wide neck so the doctor was able to just move my shirt to show my upper back.  He pressed around and found the goose egg-sized knots on my shoulders.  Then he proceeded to pop I'm guessing a dozen or so tiny needles in my upper back and shoulders and the base of my neck.  It did not hurt.  I could feel the pressure when he put them in my back but it was such a quick movement that I did not feel anything and certainly did not feel anything right after.  He moved a heat lamp above my back and closed the curtain.  okay.




An alarm went off in the distance after maybe 5-15 minutes and a nurse came over and quickly pulled the needles out and into a metal basin.  Again I did not feel any pain.

She then proceeded to drag over a machine and hook it up to me.  The machine can only be described in the following manner: Imagine an electric eel and an octopus have a baby.  But that baby is a machine.... Thats what this thing is.  Eight or more slightly damp electric suction thingies are put on my back with a light suction that grips onto my back.  Okay.  Then the nurse starts to play with the switches and the suctions thingies come Alive!!! She adjusts some stuff and asks 'Okay?' I respond 'ok?'  and she leaves and the machine goes through this series of electric pulsing zapping cycles for another 10 maybe minutes.  It is by far the weirdest sensation I have ever had.  Not painful, though I found out later that some nurses really crank up the voltage and I have had to call to get it turned down a bit.

acupuncture in Korea

Another alarm went off in the distance and the nurse returned.  She pulled the suctions off me and then wheeled over another cart.  I'm face down so I am just taking whatever the series is.

Korean acupuncture and cupping

Next up....Cupping.

 I have a lot of hair that I really like so when I heard a lighter snap on around my hair I was obviously a bit twitchy.  Well the lighter is for the inside of the cups to create a vacuum when applied to the skin.  I quickly got about 8(?) placed on my shoulder and upper back and was left again curtain closed.  This does not really allow you to move as you have parts of your skin being sucked into the cups to draw out impurities I think.  Really not sure here but without a strong grasp of the Korean language I just had to go with it.

Korean Acupuncture and Cupping

A third alarm went off in the distance.  Time is now something I have no grasp of but the nurse came by and pried off the cups and slapped a herbal pack/bandage on my shoulders and I think said to keep it there for a period of time.  The purple circles from the cupping lasts 2-3 days and does not hurt but is a bit weird and people will ask when they see it.  This Cupping Set is the closest thing I have found for at home use.








She took away my pillow and had me lay out flat and she then came over with what seems like an industrial car buffer and proceed to bear down with all her weight at she rubbed it all over my back, arms, and legs.  It hurt and tickled.  A Lot!

Acupuncture in Korea Buffer/Massager weapon

Then it was time to leave and I was told the bill was 7,500 won($7.10)  Sure.  I was motioned to come back in two days.  After the initial visit the cost has been 5,500 won($5.10) each time.  Total time was about 45-50 minutes.

The doctor poked my shoulders the second time checking my stress knots.  They seemed the same.  Had the same full procedure and returned 2 days later.  He poked my knots again and Oh My Gosh!  They were like half the size.  After 3-4 more sessions The big goose egg knots had become tiny robins egg knots.  Then after a few more sessions they were gone!!!  He told me that I was finished so now I return every couple of months for twice a week sessions.  I am not sure which part does the trick but I really enjoy it.

Wet cupping.  Just say no!

I have gone to other Traditional doctors and they do about the same procedure.  Some give you a heat pad to prepare you.  One did wet cupping and I did not know he was going to do that.  Not happy and would not let him do that again.  wet cupping is when they prick your skin and then use a different smaller vacuum cup to draw out blood.  Yuck   no thank you.  I would not like to have my treatment with a side of Hep C.  Nope nope nope.  Do Not look up YouTube videos.  I have not seen them but I can imagine they are not pretty.  I have also had acupuncture on the back of my legs to help relax the muscles.  I think it worked okay but generally do not get that done.

Well I hope that people who were like me and wanting to get more information on traditional oriental medicine in Korea have been helped by this walk through.  I say just wander in and see how they an help you feel better.  I highly recommend trying it out a couple times.









Well thanks for reading and have a great day.