Korean Traditional Medicine
Hanbang medicine uniquely developed Korean formulations emphasizing constitutional medicine and the four body types.
Korea
History & Philosophy
Origins
Korean traditional medicine (Hanbang/Hanuihak) developed alongside Chinese medical influence but crystallized its own identity, most notably through the Donguibogam — a comprehensive medical text compiled by royal physician Heo Jun in 1613 that is now UNESCO-recognized.
Core philosophy
Korean medicine's most distinctive contribution is Sasang constitutional medicine, developed by Lee Je-ma in the 19th century, which classifies people into four constitutional types and tailors herbal treatment to that underlying constitution rather than symptoms alone.
Practiced today
Korea operates a formal dual healthcare system where licensed Korean medicine doctors (six-year university training) practice alongside Western-trained physicians, with Korean medicine hospitals and insurance coverage fully integrated into national healthcare.
Herbs, foods & remedies
95 herbs traditionally used within Korean Traditional Medicine — most often for Fatigue, Digestive Issues, Fever.
Acanthopanax (Ogapi)
Eleutherococcus senticosus
Achyranthes (Useul)
Achyranthes bidentata
Agrimony (Seunhagcho)
Agrimonia pilosa
Alisma (Taeksa)
Alisma orientale
Andrographis (Cheonshimryeon)
Andrographis paniculata
Angelica (Danggui)
Angelica gigas
Astragalus (Hwanggi)
Astragalus membranaceus
Atractylodes (Baekchul)
Atractylodes macrocephala
Biota Seed (Baekjarin)
Platycladus orientalis
Bupleurum (Sychocha)
Bupleurum falcatum
Cassia Seed (Gyeolmyeongja)
Senna obtusifolia
Centella (Byeongpung)
Centella asiatica
Chaenomeles (Morumokwa)
Chaenomeles sinensis
Chinese Hawthorn (Sansakja)
Crataegus pinnatifida
Chinese Skullcap (Hwanggeun)
Scutellaria baicalensis
Chrysanthemum (Gukhwa)
Chrysanthemum morifolium
Cinnamon Bark (Gyepi)
Cinnamomum cassia
Cnidium (Cheongyung)
Ligusticum chuanxiong
Cnidium Seed (Sagwassi)
Cnidium monnieri
Codonopsis (Dang Sam)
Codonopsis pilosula
Coptis (Hwangnyeon)
Coptis japonica
Cuscuta (Dodder, Saseongja)
Cuscuta chinensis
Cynomorium (Swayang)
Cynomorium songaricum
Dan Shen (Dansham)
Salvia miltiorrhiza
Dioscorea (Sanma)
Dioscorea opposita
Eclipta (Hanyeonji)
Eclipta prostrata
Ephedra (Ma Hwang)
Ephedra sinica
Eucommia (Duzhong)
Eucommia ulmoides
Evodia (Gosuyeo)
Tetradium ruticarpum
Figwort (Hyeonmamsun)
Scrophularia ningpoensis
Forsythia (Yeongyocha)
Forsythia suspensa
Fritillaria (Cheonma)
Fritillaria cirrhosa
Fritillaria (Patmo)
Fritillaria thunbergii
Gardenia (Chija)
Gardenia jasminoides
Gastrodia (Chunma)
Gastrodia elata
Gentian (Yongdam)
Gentiana scabra
Ginger (Saenggang)
Zingiber officinale
Goji Berry (Gugija)
Lycium chinense
Gromwell (Jacho)
Lithospermum erythrorhizon
He Shou Wu (Hasuwu)
Polygonum multiflorum
Showing the first 40 of 95 — use “See all” above for the full, filterable list.