Erika & 3 others were invited to the chat.
Everyone doing okay?
I just got back from the corner store. It’s freezing out!
Seoul’s going to be below zero all week…
Try not to get sick! Winter wellness is important!
I heard ☹ The last thing anyone needs right now is to get sick…
Dress warm!
I’m home already, but my hands and feet are still frozen stiff!
What are you, cold-blooded or something?
She must be haha
Chen always seems to get cold hands and feet.
Some people don’t have good circulation I guess.
I know that drinking tea to keep my warm in the winter definitely helps!
You’re always drinking tea, aren’t you?
Any out there worth recommending?
True. I do love my tea!
Korea has a bunch of teas that are good for fighting off a cold.
Nice! Recommend a few then!
My throat somehow feels scratchy... Let us know a few!
There’s this medicinal drink called Ssanghwatang . It’s sold at convenience stores and pharmacies!
You mean this one?
It’s always available in the little heated shelf near the register.
Yeap! That’s the one!
I was curious and looked up the ingredients before. It has stuff like dried roots of Mongolian milkvetch and Korean angelica, cinnamon bark, liquorice, ginger, and other peculiar herbs and ingredients!
I remember drinking it all the time when I first came. I love the cinnamon taste!
I wasn’t a fan of it…
Well, I like it! Older people in Korea tend enjoy it, too.
I think people have it more it’s health benefits than for the taste haha
I’m always buying myself one all the time during winter!
Especially, if you drink it right before bed... It makes for a refreshing morning!
I should go get some.
People seem to either love it or hate it…
Is there anything out there that’s more of a crowd pleaser?
Yeah, is there?! I can’t deal with that oriental medicine taste in my mouth…
Chen, you got the palette of little kid lol
Well, for me, juice extracts are my thing.
Source: Seoul Pharmacist Credit Union's Good Pomegranate 100
Juice extract?!
Yeah. There are different extracts out there made from veggies or fruits. It’s kinda cool.
Nice! I love my veggies! What kind are there??
That’d be a great alternative for kids that don’t like greens haha
There’s cabbage extract, onion extract, kudzu extract… Those are some of the main ones.
Onion extract?! I bet it’s all spicy!
For fruits, there’s pomegranate extract, pear extract, apple extract, and a bunch of others!
My favorite is pear and bellflower root extract! They say it’s really good for your bronchial area.
If it has some of those Asian pears in it, it’s gotta be good!
Where can you buy that sort of stuff??
I wasn’t aware before, but last week I wound up running into something cool over in Jegi-dong!
What’d you find?!
It’s called Yakryeong Market !
It’s the biggest oriental medicine market in Korea! And having gone there, there’s nothing they don’t have!
There are like 800 or so places selling oriental medicinal ingredients. I’m sure they’ll have any kind of juice extract you want!
800?!
But how do you know which ingredient is good for what?
Otherwise, how do you know what to even get?
If you’re not sure about the kind of ingredients out there and what they can do for you, try visiting the Seoul Yangnyeong-si Herb Medicine Museum !
I know I’d like to find out more about the what’s what of oriental medicine!
They have everything you need to know about its history!
Are there any experiential programs? Like for treatment of something?
Yeah, I heard there are! I was actually planning on going this week but everything is temporarily on hold because of the pandemic… ☹
You’ll definitely want to check their hours before heading out!
We should totally go together!
It would’ve been nice to go this week to relieve some stiffness… That stinks
Chen, I gotcha! I’ll let you know about this one oriental clinic I go to!
The provide all sorts of treatment from acupuncture and thermal treatment to cupping and more!
Oh… Do you have some ailment or something??
I’m not sick or anything. I just feel kinda stiff…
Actually, my back area isn’t so great…
My ankle kinda hurts too. So, does it help??
It feels great afterward!
Especially the cupping. My body takes to it really well!
What’s cupping?
The doctor or assistant takes these suction cups, either plastic or glass, and they suction it to you body to help promote blood circulation!
Ah, you mean like those marks on the backs of athletes, right? Is that where they come from?
We do a lot of cupping treatment over in China too!
Does it bleed?
Nope haha There’s a kind of marking afterward on the skin’s surface, I guess, but that’s it!
Does it also help boost your immunity?
Yeah, apparently it’s said to help with immunity!
Well, it does help promote blood circulation so that makes sense.
I go to those clinics too sometimes to get some thermal treatment!
Cool! Ya know, I really like going to saunas!
Tell me about it! I love going to Korean jjimjilbangs ...
That must stink with the pandemic and all...
Yeah, I just can’t find myself going anymore… I’m at least able to take a body and foot bath at home!
Foot baths are cool. I love how the body warms right up as soon as you dunk your feet in the water haha
Two birds of a feather, we are lol
Without a bathtub, you can’t take a bath, but footbaths can be done easily anywhere!
I heard footbaths are great people with chronic cold hands and feet!
Yes, they are! They’re a cinch too!
Just take fill a portable tub with clean, 38-45°C water and let your feet soak for about 15-20 minutes!
That sounds amazing...!
I’m gonna try it today and let you know haha
Me three! I’ll try it just like you said!
Olga, I’ll be sure to give you some footbath solution next time we meet!
Thanks for the tips!
Well, I guess we should all stay at home this winter and work on taking care of our health!
You guys are the best! I’ll be able to endure the upcoming winter now!
Yes!! That footbath solution I had ordered finally arrived!
Ready for that footbath, Chen? lol
You know I am! See ya’ll laters!
Make sure you take a picture and show us!!!
Stay healthy everyone!
#SecrettoHealth #HerbMedicineMuseum #Footbath #Ssanghwatang #JuiceExtract #OrientalClinic #Cupping #Tea #HerbMedicine #KHealth #OrientalMedicine