About Korean Hand Therapy
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Korean Hand Therapy (KHT)
When I lived in Seoul, South Korea, I had the pleasure of being exposed to Korean Hand Therapy. This therapy is also known as Koryo Hand Therapy, KHT, Korean Hand Acupuncture, or Sooji chim.
I had the most amazing yoga teacher who taught me positions that I never knew existed. She was also a licensed Korean Hand Therapist. She could also tell that I was getting cramps in my legs trying to do what many of the much older students were doing - yes, much older students - like all the elder women in their 70's and 80's, women who were able to do headstands and everything else.
At some point she asked me if I was interested in hand acupuncture. Actually, she didn't speak English, and I understood little Korean (Hangul) except how to order food and of course a polite greeting and thank you. But the Korean people were so kind and generous so I just said yes - nei (nay) to everything. So this is how I wound up in a lovely tea room with my wonderful yoga teacher doing hand therapy and sticking needles in my hand.
I admit that it did make me more limber and energetic, but it was only when I got back to the U.S. and did some research that I found that hand therapy was based on other philosophies, and has only been recently developed - in 1970.
About Korean Hand Therapy (KHT):
- KHT was developed in 1970 by Dr. Tae Woo Yoo, O.M.D., Ph.D.
- KHT is a combination of acupuncture and reflexology for the hand.
- It is based on the belief that the whole meridian system of the body is represented in miniature in the hand.
- It is believed that there are 14 micro-meridians and 345 acupuncture points in each hand providing an energetic access to internal organs.
- The points can be stimulated by needles, small magnets, and other devices and use massage, electricity, color light, laser and heat.
- Diagnostic techniques include pulse-taking, abdominal diagnosis, and conventional medical techniques.
The therapies have specific titles which include:
- Micro-meridian Balancing
- Five Element Tonification
- Special Points Therapy
- Yin and Yang Pulse Diagnosis
- Three Constitutions
- and more
Since 1993, KHT has become more widely used in the U.S. with certification program standards being developed in association with the American Institute of Koryo Hand Therapy.
For additional information please visit:
koryohandtherapy.com
soojichim.com/new/eng/kht3.htm
For other traditional health practices see links below:
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