한약업사의 전염병 인식에 대한 일고찰

Abstract

During the late Joseon Dynasty, a number of medical books had been published as part of the active response to numerous infectious diseases. Among them, Heo Jun’s “Sinchan Wall-Heat Method” is said to be one of the most specialized books that contains systematic and practical treatments on the infectious diseases. The book is somewhat shamanistic or unscientific in a medical regard, however, investigating the cause of the epidemic during wartime where with no sanitation is encouraging to this time.. At that time, disinfection depended solely on Danbang, which refer to one type medical herb treatment, or bamboo burning.. It is not known how helpful burning the bamboo itself was to disinfection. But at least it is highly likely that this raised awareness to the disinfection at individual level. The smoke might also had served as a sign of infectious disease in town just like the Jangseung and Beacon. The majority of herbal medicine pharmacists stress the importance of “prevention” as to infectious diseases. But when it comes to “treatment”, clinical approach is restrictive by the medical law, leaving western medicine such as vaccination being more proper measure. Some herbal medicine pharmacists have suggested measures but they are restricted nevertheless. In spite of the limits they go through, herbal medicine pharmacists emphasize the importance of immune system as a preventive measure to the pandemic like COVID-19. To improve immune system, they suggest 108 bows, 10k steps, meditation, yoga, Vipassanā and aerobic exercise such as badminton or tennis, etc. In addition, traditional foods such as soybean paste stew and seaweed soup, supplements such as Boju Ikki-tang, and tea instead of water are also recommended. Other than that, practical suggestions such as getting enough rest, visiting café or teahouses with relieving atmosphere, gardening, hiking, traveling, watching cultural and artistic performances, and visiting museums or bonsai gardening are also provided. As seen above, herbal medicine pharmacists who emphasize the excellence of oriental medicine are not well aware with the ‘treatment’ for the pandemic like COVID-19. This is a clear legislative limitation to the herbal medicine pharmacists or doctors not able to approach to the clinical remedies. Therefore, some herbal medicine pharmacists have begun to suggest that they should overcome such blind spots by establishing oriental medicine universities and the scientificization of oriental medicine. It seems late, but I think it is a necessary process to grow into alternative medicine, not oriental medicine.