[Click! Health] If Your New Year's Resolution Is 'Health'... "Start with Posture and Mindset"

[Asia Economy Reporter Myunghwan Lee] Many people set health as their goal for the new year 2023. In the field of Korean traditional medicine, it is advised that for good health, one must first correct their posture and mindset.

According to Korean medicine, mindset is a major factor affecting physical health. In particular, there is a condition called Hwabyeong, which arises from being trapped in the perception of "I am a wronged victim." It is a disorder where accumulated anger and feelings of injustice lead to chest tightness, insomnia, headaches, and other symptoms. If Hwabyeong is left untreated, it can lead to autonomic nervous system disorders, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses.

Professor Seonghoon Cho of the Department of Korean Neuropsychiatry at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital said, "Hwabyeong is a condition that requires treatment and can be treated, and the start of treatment is the individual's choice to live a healthy and happy life." He advised, "It is good to combine acupuncture, herbal medicine, and meditation therapy based on an objective process of reflecting on why Hwabyeong occurred and how to view it in one's life."

Hwabyeong often originates from interpersonal relationships, and there is also advice that one must strengthen the power of the mind even in such environments. Professor Cho emphasized, "The power of the mind is the driving force that one leads by oneself and is the goal of Hwabyeong treatment."

Posture, as much as mindset, also affects health. Korean medicine views patients from a psychosomatic perspective, which does not separate body and mind. This means that usual posture, habits, and body shape accompany changes not only in the body but also in the mind.

Professor Yunna Kim of the Department of Korean Neuropsychiatry at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital warned, "When feeling anxious or depressed, our body naturally protects itself and tries to conserve energy by maintaining a hunched and contracted posture. If this posture is maintained for a long time, the mind easily becomes depressed, and people soothe themselves with sweet foods or binge eating, leading to weight gain and body shape changes, which results in a vicious cycle of increased depression."

Recently, active research has been conducted in academia examining the relationship between posture and emotions. Some studies have shown that straightening the spine or adopting open postures increases positive emotions. Conversely, results have also reported that slouched or closed postures negatively affect mood and confidence.

Professor Kim emphasized, "Modern people naturally adopt hunched postures due to prolonged use of smartphones or computers, which can promote emotional changes. Good posture slows breathing and releases neurotransmitters that respond to anxiety, affecting mood, attention, and concentration, so efforts to sit upright and maintain a straight posture are necessary."

Professor Seonghoon Jo (left) and Professor Yunna Kim, Department of Korean Medicine Neuropsychiatry, Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital. / Photo by Kyung Hee Medical Center