Comments on: “I didn’t really say everything I said”

By: rowan

rowan — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 01:06:18 +0000

i pretty much hold the same views in principle at least. i’m open to most natural therapies but remain very sceptical at the same time ( which ellininates a large amount of them). the thing i like about natural therapies is that they are an earlier intervention, whereas modern western medicine operates for the most part on a crisis system, only treating something when there is a significant failure.

the ear cadling was quite interesting, i have never heard of that before but somehow can’t see myself trying it….

By: Corpy Carly

Corpy Carly — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 01:29:33 +0000

Zonath,
Amen brother.

By: Zonath

Zonath — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 01:15:33 +0000

i’m suprised you consider herbal medicine as a myth. where do you think most pharmaceuticals come from? there is plenty of evidence for herbal medicine working and some for accupuncture

My only response to this oft-quoted statement is that if certain herbal medicines work, then the purveyors of herbal medicine should be willing to subject them to the same testing and regulatory schemes that ‘real’ medicine is. Until that happens, I’ll rely on medicines with a proven track record, well-documented side effects, and strict, well-enforced standards for safety and purity.

As for acupuncture… I suppose ’some evidence’ for it working is better than ‘no evidence’, but again, when you’ve got studies that also say that you get the same theraputic effects from having needles randomly stuck into you (as opposed to only being inserted into specific ‘magical’ points), that sort of militates for the whole practice just to be a long-practiced extension of the placebo effect. And although I will admit that herbal medicine can have its benefits beyond the placebo effect, stuff like acupuncture, ear candling, moxabustion, homeopathy, and an innumerable list of other sketchy and generally shady practices are nothing but placebo effect.

By: rowan

rowan — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:11:42 +0000

zonath,
at the risk of getiing too far off topic, i’m suprised you consider herbal medicine as a myth. where do you think most pharmaceuticals come from? there is plenty of evidence for herbal medicine working and some for accupuncture, although i have to a certain extent that their benifits can often be overstated, and they can be used for more than its actually useful for.

corpy carly,

i don’t know if they actually upgraded the wood/coal/other fuel fired heaters to gas but kept everything else the same in which case i guess it’d be possible for gas to leak up, or they switched to the gas fired hot water system thats used now where it wouldn’t be a problem, but its possible.

By: Corpy Carly

Corpy Carly — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 15:53:50 +0000

Rowan and Robert Neff - I hadn’t really considered the ondol killing gases as just regular old 도시가스(CNG?). I was thinking of the way-back ondol, that Dram and Kimchipig describe, that burned coal. Maybe there is a reason to switch my gas line on and off every time I cook….

By: Zonath

Zonath — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 15:33:17 +0000

At least the fan death myth is relatively harmless. Considering the wealth of myths these days which cause actual, bodily harm (acupuncture, herbal ‘medicine’, ear candling, etc…), I find it actually kind of refreshing that this one, at least, isn’t likely to kill anyone (ironically enough).

By: Dram_man

Dram_man — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 08:02:06 +0000

I think the “leave your window open” relates to the coal heating systems which can cause the carbon monoxide to build up in the house.

By: kimchipig

kimchipig — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 05:00:02 +0000

When I was in Daegu, I lived in one the old Jugong apartments built in the 1970s. They all still had the chimneys for the coal fired ondol system. They were inherently dangerous and also terrible for air pollution so they were all retrofitted with the hot water system in the early 1980s. When I fist moved in, my boiler was an antique and constantly broke down at the worst times. I can remember my wife and I trying to stay warm with a toaster oven!

I was truly surprised about the fan death thing. I first heard of it when I was entertaining a Korean lady at my apartment. She thought I was suicidal to leave the fan on at night. Since it was about a billion degrees in my little concrete box, I was not about to let her win. I doubt she slept a wink, though!

By: robert neff

robert neff — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 02:57:52 +0000

I don’t remember if they were gas or hot water. I think gas back in the 80s but to be honest I don’t remember. I do know that throughout the mid 90s it was often warned on AFKN to make sure that you slept with a window open during the winter to avoid accidental (is there any other?) gas poisoning from the ondol. As to it only happening in winter - I would have to disargree with that - I think that the ondol had to be on for the hot water too. Not that the hot gas went under the floor during the summer, but I think that there were also gas leaks. I remember spending a night in Chunchon at a Yokwan (spelling?) that had a sauna below and my floor was cooking. Worst night I spent.

I enjoy reading all the old “advice” in the various books, letters and journals that I read. I remember that one of the missionaries in Pyoungyang who was tired and cranky made an off-the-wall comment to one of his patients who was bothering him that he/she could be cured if they went out and kissed the mule. The next year it was an accepted cure by many of the locals….still laugh when I read it.(Seoul Press - newspaper - about 1920).

By: rowan

rowan — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 02:01:35 +0000

Corpy Carly,

I think Robert Neff’s theory relates to a gas leak that could occur any season rather than toxic gases caused by the buring of something for the heating, which is why I was wondering if they burn gas for the heating directly or if it’s done with the hot water like the modern ones. Not saying it’s a great theory, but it’s better than the other theories out there.