24. I Heal My Own Body ： What is Yangsheng ?

In China, there is a saying: eat radish in winter and ginger in summer. This is similar to eating hot foods like samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) during the hottest days of summer, and cold foods like cold noodles or dongchimi (radish water kimchi) in the cold winter. In summer, yang energy flows outward, making the stomach relatively cool, so it is nourished with warm foods. In winter, yang energy gathers inside, so cold foods are eaten to cool down. This is a typical dietary yangsheng (health preservation) method.

In traditional medicine, maintaining a healthy body and mind involves two approaches: yangsheng (养生) and treatment. Yangsheng emphasizes self-care and promoting health, while treatment deals with diseases that have already developed. Yangsheng is about managing the vital essence, qi, and spirit through proper diet, suitable exercise, and mental cultivation, living according to the laws of nature.

To live according to nature, maintaining the balance of yin and yang (homeostasis) is fundamental. In Korea, Sasang medicine is mainstream, while in China, constitution diagnosis and treatment are based on yin-yang theory. Those with strong yang constitution tend to dislike heat, sweat a lot, have a quick temper, prefer to act first, and openly express emotions. Their faces are often reddish, heads large, and eyes slightly upturned, giving an overall sensation of energy rising upwards.

Those with strong yin constitution often feel cold, have cold hands and feet, are introverted, patient, and less expressive of emotions. Their bodies are generally larger relative to their heads, with downward-slanting eyes, giving a calm impression. If neither yin nor yang predominates, the constitution is balanced; unless symptoms occur, there is no need to restrict foods but to consume both warm and cool foods evenly.

First-generation immigrants often carry a subconscious duty to settle in a foreign land, living a goal- and work-centered life, making it difficult to enjoy momentary joy, gratitude, and relaxation, thus maintaining a tense state. Prolonged tension is a fundamental condition leading to various diseases. Therefore, I intend to share information on yangsheng methods over several installments.

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Dr. Jin-man Kim, director of Peace Oriental Clinic