SOUTH KOREA: OLYMPICS: South Korean athletes use traditional remedies and treatments to see off aches and sprains that could derail their medal chances at the summer Olympics

Record ID: 330849

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: OLYMPICS: South Korean athletes use traditional remedies and treatments to see off aches and sprains that could derail their medal chances at the summer Olympics
  • Date: 12th July 2012
  • Summary: JINCHEON, SOUTH KOREA (RECENT) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF TRAINING CENTRE BANNER READING IN KOREAN: "WE'RE RUNNING FOR LONDON, WE'RE TEAM KOREA' VARIOUS OF NATIONAL FEMALE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS TRAINING VARIOUS OF FEMALE VOLLEYBALL PLAYER GETTING ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREA'S NATIONAL FEMALE VOLLEY BALL PLAYER, KIM YEON-KOUNG, SAYING: "It hurts, but it's very effective. Now I receive therapy regularly as my body has experienced benefits that I think boosts my performance." DOCTOR SPEAKING TO MALE VOLLEYBALL PLAYER DOCTOR INSERTING NEEDLE DURING ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT MALE VOLLEYBALL PLAYER'S FACE GRIMACING BURNING OF HERBS DURING MOXIBUSTION TREATMENT VARIOUS OF BURNING HERBS IN CONTAINER PLACED ON CALF SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CHAIRMAN OF JASENG HOSPITAL OF ORIENTAL MEDICINE, SHIN JOON-SHIK, GIVING PATIENT ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) CHAIRMAN OF JASENG HOSPITAL OF ORIENTAL MEDICINE, SHIN JOON-SHIK, SAYING: "Traditional Chinese medicines are more effective for chronic diseases. However, when it comes to acute disease, especially musculoskeletal disease of athletes, Korean treatment works outstandingly."
  • Embargoed: 27th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Korea, Republic of
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Health,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA5ME6OLGBJHSBR1X7IGQS7S31T
  • Story Text: South Korean athletes, seeking to remain in peak shape as the summer Olympics loom, are turning to Oriental rather than Western treatments to see off aches and sprains that could derail their medal chances.
    Kim Yeon-koung from the national female volleyball team said she used to dislike acupuncture due to the pain, but now she's a strong believer in the treatment.
    "It hurts, but it's very effective. Now I receive therapy regularly as my body has experienced benefits that I think boosts my performance," said Kim, receiving acupuncture at a gym in Jincheon, 150 kilometres south of Seoul.
    Oriental medicine doctors say South Korean acupuncture treatment for athletes directly stimulates muscles and bones, unlike the more common traditional Chinese acupuncture.
    A traditional Chinese treatment called moxibustion is sometimes used in conjunction with acupuncture, applying heat to acupuncture points with a particular herb, usually mugwort.
    It warms the body and is said to smooth the flow of energy and blood.
    Shin Joon-shik, the chairman of a major traditional Korean hospital in Seoul, say the Korean style of treatment is more effective for the problems athletes encounter.
    "Traditional Chinese medicines are more effective for chronic diseases. However, when it comes to acute disease, especially musculoskeletal disease of athletes, Korean treatment works outstandingly," he said.
    Shin's therapy has been received by numerous sports stars, such as national soccer player Park Ji-sung, figure skating gold medallist Kim Yuna, U.S. baseball hitter Choo Shin-soo and PGA golf player Choi Kyung-ju.
    Despite the benefits, these Oriental treatments and medicines are not without problems.
    A Korean pole vaulter caught in a local doping test in 2010 blamed the oriental medicine for the problem.
    The Korea Anti-Doping Agency later concluded pills made from centipedes that she obtained from an uncertified health-food shop, were to blame.
    Choi Hong-suk from the national male volleyball team also said he avoided herbal medicines due to doping concerns.
    "I found some oriental medicines in doping test lists. I don't take those medicines, although I go for acupuncture treatment regularly," he said.
    In response to the doping charges, the Korean Oriental Medical Society set up an anti-doping committee in 2010 to provide training to doctors.
    Certified doctors say they know what to avoid in their prescriptions in order to pass doping tests.
    "People can be free from such concerns, and such misconceptions can only be removed if medicines are prescribed by professionals who are certified for prescription," said Park Ji-hun, Oriental doctor in charge of the national female volley ball team.
    Oriental treatments across South Korea have been on the rise, with official data showing the number of traditional clinics surging 32 percent to 12,292 in 2011 from 2004.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Video restrictions: parts of this video may require additional clearances. Please see ‘Business Notes’ for more information.
Register