A large part of the lessons I’ve learned with Gum Gang don’t just come through the knowledge of the remedies themselves, but different approaches to cooking them that can save time, money and keep up health on a budget. One of the most important benefits of traditional knowledge is the fact that it is made to be an accessible and affordable alternative for the sake of minor health problems. For example as someone who has dealt with allergies since the age of six, drinking this recipe called Su Chon Gua can clear my sinuses and help me breathe easy without needing antihistamine. However I have met Gum Gang at times when my allergies were so bad he saw antihistamine as necessary. These remedies provide a different approach to varied levels in our health problems.
Su Chon Gua is not so much an exclusive Mudang remedy as a traditional Korean recipe. On the other hand Su Chon Gua can be hard to come by outside of the occasional traditional restaurant or tourist trap. Additionally, these brews of Su Chon Gua might not be as potent as the remedy version as an effective batch can taste quite strong. People like Gum Gang keep this remedy in connection with its older purpose as a “poison that removes other poisons.” This concept was frequent in East Asian traditional medicine and was thought important in various ingredients from ginseng to dog tongue. The idea is that by putting a small amount of certain elements into your body that it will process out, you will encourage other poisons which we ingest on a regular basis to leave the body as well. Continue reading
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