Koryo medicines, traditional medicines of the Korean nation, demonstrate their great viability in clinical practice and the range of their application is expanding with progress being made in putting them on a scientific basis.

Recently, The Pyongyang Times reporter Pang Un Ju had an interview with Jang Kum Ryon, PhD, associate professor and department chief of the Koryo Medicine Faculty of Pyongyang University of Medical Sciences.

The Korean people have long used Koryo medicines and their position is being raised with each passing day. Would you tell me about the advantages of Koryo medicines?

Koryo medicines are made by gathering and processing natural materials, unlike modern medicines.

Koryo medicines can effectively treat diseased organisms generally and comprehensively and also cure some diseases that even modern medicines cannot as they contain various ingredients.

Koryo medicines also have remarkable effects in improving subhealth which cannot be said to be a disease.

Modern medicine fails to cure subhealth completely but ensures only medicinal treatment for some symptoms. But Koryo medicine diagnoses subhealth as the upset balance between the negative and the positive and between vigour and blood in the body and applies traditional medicines to the treatment of the relevant conditions.

Koryo medicines not only cure diseases but also accelerate recovery.

In particular, they are effective in treating obstinate infections which show no reaction to antibiotics among patients with various underlying diseases or immune dysfunction.

Koryo medicines include many tonics for good health and longevity and anyone can easily acquire and use them as relevant resources are abundant in the country.

What should not be overlooked is that unlike some modern medicines that have negative effects on other organs in the course of the treatment of a disease, Koryo medicines causes no negative effect. Rather, they improve the overall condition of the body, thus promoting medical treatment and boosting vitality.

Research is intensified to put production of Koryo medicines on a scientific basis and make their use more convenient, I think.

Many achievements have been made in the work to scientifically clarify the pharmacological effects of Koryo medicines, make Koryo medicines extractive and elucidate their efficacy in clinical treatment, contributing to medical practice.

The Koryo medicines that are popular these days include the Astragalus membranaceus and Ledebouriellae radix immune modulating pill effective in improving the immunitic functions of the respiratory organs, the honeysuckle and licorice antipyretic granule which is clearly efficacious in reducing fever and causes no adverse effect and the Kumdang injection and RE-Berine injection, third-generation Koryo medicines known worldwide.