User:Ulzhan Abduali/sandbox
Korean Medicine in History
[edit]The article of Kang Yeonseok on the theme of Korean medicine highlights the major development of Korean Medicine discussing its five distinct periods. Korean Medicine (KM) has a long history and has been influenced a great deal by other medical systems particularly Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) but has also maintained some of its own characteristics.
The first period, up to about the 12th century, is one of the dark ages of Korean medicine, with KM based primarily on folk tradition and some foreign (mostly Chinese) input. In the second period, the 13th to 15th centuries, Hyangyak medicine, which emphasized the use of domestic herbs, emerged. “Hyangyak medicine” is a type of KM that prescribes only Hyangyak”. [1] This local focus was crucial during times of war, when access to foreign medicinal supplies was limited.The third period, from the 15th to early 17th centuries, was marked by the creation of the great medical texts such as Hyangyak Jipseongbang, which combined indigenous and foreign knowledge to form a complete system of Korean medicine.
In the 17th to 19th centuries, KM became more independent with the publication of Donguibogam in 1613, a seminal text that solidified KM as distinct from TCM. The 5th period around the 20th century required a great deal of adjustment to KM to modern medical research, yet retained traditional KM. This age is the time of Korea trying to incorporate KM into the national health care system and at the same time dealing with modernization and globalization.
When reading this historical textbook people can witness this happening in today’s world. For example societies, when threatened by external forces, will usually draw upon their internal forces and knowledge base. It is worth noticing that during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, many countries used traditional medicines as well as modern medicines to try to fight off the virus just as Korea did with Hyangyak when they went to war. The focus on indigenous herbs also preys on the inherent human tendency to turn inward, toward indigenous and traditional knowledge in times of crisis.
To sum up, the growth of Korean Medicine reveals how traditional wisdom can evolve when faced with external factors or contemporary demands. Synthesis of KM with modern science traces KM’s evolution from folk herbal medicine to integration with scientific research, albeit with a cultural dilemma of retaining the past while modernizing. Such progression provides insights on the durability and applicability of traditional systems in the contemporary world.
- ^ Kang, Y. (2011). The characteristics of Korean medicine based on time classification. China Perspectives, 2011(3), 33-41.
History of Vaccination
[edit]Vaccination is considered as one of the most significant and powerful impacts in the history of medical science. As Stanley Plotkin outlined in his article, vaccine development has started its evolution from the 18th century. Throughout the centuries, vaccine development has evolved as a significant technological advancement thanks to its impact on human longevity and health.
The most important figure in the history of vaccines was Edward Jenner, who laid the foundation for immunization. He developed the first vaccine in 1789, using material from cowpox lesions to protect against smallpox. In the 19th century, Louis Pasteur created the first rabies vaccine using an attenuated form of the virus. Not only the first rabies vaccine but also vaccines against cholera and typhoid were developed through bacterial culture techniques. Louis Pasteur took the example of Edward Jenner for his foundation to weaken pathogens for safe human use.
In the 20th century, there were some breakthroughs in vaccine development. Take as an example the cell structure method, which allowed viruses to grow in controlled environments. It is worth mentioning that scientists such as Enders, Weller, and Robins showed that many viruses can be cultured in vitro, including polis and measles, and this method was noted by vaccine developers[1].
In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, scientists introduced new types of vaccination: Recombinant and mRNA. They enable precision in targeting specific pathogens and enhance vaccine safety. In recent years, Kazakhstan has engaged with cutting-edge vaccine development technologies as described in the article. Specifically, using mRNA and vector-based vaccines scientists created the COVID-19 vaccine. The Kazakhstani vaccine called “QazVac” was developed using modern ways of vaccination such as genetic engineering and cell culture techniques.[2] The results of the tests have shown the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine for humans, as well as the formation of high immunity.[2]
In conclusion, vaccination has allowed the human population to recover and protect itself from various diseases and viruses. From Edward Jenner's early innovations to modern techniques like genetic engineering, vaccination allowed us to strengthen our immune defenses from infections such as cholera, rabies, etc. For countries such as Kazakhstan, the adoption of such advancements could elevate national healthcare systems.
- ^ Plotkin, Stanley (2014-08-18). "History of vaccination". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 111 (34): 12283–12287. doi:10.1073/pnas.1400472111. ISSN 0027-8424.
- ^ a b "News – biosafety.kz". Retrieved 2024-10-30.