WRITER : SWASTI SHARMA
EDITOR : SHIVRAJ PATEL
Finger Pricking Method:
Just imagine, you are in South Korea and having indigestion but suddenly your Korean friend starts pricking your hand with needle. How does it feel? Weird right!
But no, it’s normal in Korea. They believe that pricking hand can cure indigestion. This is an ancient method by which Koreans treat indigestion. In this practice, they take a needle and prick the middle part of the tip of the thumb so that blood comes out. Many Koreans believe that indigestion usually occurs due to either excess blood or a blockage of energy. Whenever someone feels heaviness or blockage in their chest or stomach after eating, an elder person brings a sanitized needle, often sterilized with alcohol or over a flame. First, a cloth is tied tightly around the thumb so that the blood flow is restricted, and then the needle is used to prick the thumb, allowing a few drops of blood to come out. It is believed that this small release of blood helps restore balance and flow in the body. Although modern science calls it a placebo effect, for Koreans, it remains a strong cultural memory and can still be seen to a great extent among the older generation.
Herbal Remedies :
- Ginger Tea: Koreans often make this tea to treat indigestion. To prepare it, ginger—often steamed—and honey are boiled together for 10–15 minutes before being given to the patient. This tea is known to help with various issues such as bloating, indigestion, and nausea, and it is also a scientifically proven home remedy.
- Plum Syrup: This syrup is rich in organic acids like citric and malic acid, which improve digestion and help resolve many stomach problems.
- Sikhye: Another popular remedy is Sikhye, which is sweet, fermented rice drink that Koreans have been using since ancient times. It is usually consumed after eating heavy food to ease stomach discomfort.
Cultural and Symbolic Beliefs :
Picture Credit : https://images.app.goo.gl/m2hXR8YYpw2sSead6
Koreans also use the hand-warming method to treat indigestion. In Korean culture, it is seen as both traditional emotional care and medicinal care. The saying “어머니 손은 약손”, meaning a mother’s hand is like a medicine, holds special importance. It is believed that a mother’s hand, filled with love and warmth, has the power to cure many ailments. This method is valued not only for providing physical warmth but also as a way of transferring positive energy. In ancient times, it was believed that during indigestion, the stomach area becomes cold and needs warmth the most. Since no one can love a person more than a mother, her hands were considered the best medicine. Whenever someone complained of indigestion after eating heavy food, the mother or grandmother at home would place her hand on the stomach where the person felt pain and gently massage it in circular motions. This warmth and gentle pressure would help relieve discomfort. In the past, when medical facilities were not easily available; people relied on this method to heal their bodies. It not only provided physical relief but also strengthened the emotional and personal bonds between family members. That is why this method is still used widely in modern Korean society. From a scientific perspective, it can be explained as heat therapy or a placebo effect, but Koreans have deep faith in these traditional techniques, and such home remedies are still practiced in Korea today.
In this way, Korea has various methods to treat indigestion whether its finger pricking method, herbal remedies or cultural & symbolic beliefs, all have their own special importance in Korean culture and society.
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