Uwhang Cheongsimwon: From the King''s Secret Prescription to the People''s Essential Medicine

Discover everything about Uwhang Cheongsimwon, which has evolved from a stroke treatment across eras to a modern anxiolytic that calms contemporary anxieties.

• The origins of Uwhang Cheongsimwon: History from China’s Song Dynasty to Joseon’s Heo Jun
• Changes in ingredients over time and modern significance
• Proper usage and precautions

The Origin of Uwhang Cheongsimwon: History Beginning in the Song Dynasty

For modern Koreans, Uwhang Cheongsimwon carries a dual image: a medicine sought to ease nerves before important exams or interviews, and a miraculous remedy that saves critically ill stroke patients. This dramatic range reflects its deep and complex history.

The history of Uwhang Cheongsimwon begins with the official medical text of the Song Dynasty, “Taiping Huimin Hejiju Fang (太平惠民和劑局方)”. This state-approved and standardized prescription was originally a specialized medicine for severe illnesses.

The name clearly indicates its purpose. ‘Cheongsim (淸心)’ means clearing the pathological ‘heat’ in the heart, which governs the mind, and ‘Uwhang (牛黃)’ is the key ingredient responsible for this effect. Thus, the original Uwhang Cheongsim ‘pill’ was designed for emergencies like stroke, involving sudden loss of consciousness, high fever, and convulsions.

This prescription was introduced to the Korean Peninsula during the Goryeo period, laying the foundation for its complete reinvention in Joseon.

Joseon’s Reinvention: Heo Jun and Donguibogam

Uwhang Cheongsimwon gained a unique identity in Korean medical history thanks to Heo Jun’s 1613 completion of 『Donguibogam (東醫寶鑑)』. Rather than simply following the Chinese prescription, Heo Jun skillfully combined three contemporary prescriptions to create a uniquely Korean Uwhang Cheongsim ‘won’.

The Difference Between ‘Hwan (丸)’ and ‘Won (元)’: A Declaration of Medical Independence

A notable point is the change in name. While the Chinese original used ‘Hwan (丸)’, meaning ‘pill’, Heo Jun used ‘Won (元)’, meaning ‘origin’ or ‘primary’.

This was more than a simple name change. Reflecting the spirit of 『Donguibogam』, which aimed to establish a uniquely Joseon medical system beyond Chinese medicine, this was an expression of medical pride asserting that Joseon’s prescription was more fundamental and superior, effectively a ‘medical independence declaration’.

Later, in the late Joseon period, Hwang Do-yeon’s 『Bangyak Happyeon (方藥合編)』 included Uwhang Cheongsimwon as an emergency medicine, helping it become widely known beyond the royal court and select experts.

The King’s Medicine Becomes a Diplomatic Asset

During the Joseon era, Uwhang Cheongsimwon was the royal family’s most important essential medicine. The 『Annals of the Joseon Dynasty』 and 『Seungjeongwon Ilgi』 record hundreds of instances of the king and royal family members taking Uwhang Cheongsimwon.

Notably, King Myeongjong suffered from ‘heart heat syndrome’, similar to modern anxiety disorders, and records show he used Uwhang Cheongsimwon to calm his mind during highly stressful events like receiving Chinese envoys. This is a clear historical precedent for its use in psychological stress-related nervous symptoms.

The reputation of Joseon’s Uwhang Cheongsimwon crossed borders, becoming a coveted diplomatic gift among Chinese envoys. According to 『Yeolyang Sesigi』, Chinese envoys believed Joseon’s Uwhang Cheongsimwon was more effective than Chinese versions. This was a case of ‘cultural soft power’, demonstrating Joseon’s medical superiority over China and a source of national pride.

Evolution Over Time: The History of Uwhang Cheongsimwon Ingredients

The original Donguibogam prescription consists of about 30 herbal ingredients. However, it has continuously evolved to meet modern safety and environmental regulations.

Changes for Safety

In the past, the prescription included cinnabar (mercury compound) and realgar (arsenic compound) for strong sedative effects. From a modern toxicological perspective, these heavy metals are harmful to humans and have been completely removed from all currently produced products.

Environmental Regulations and Alternative Ingredients

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has had the greatest impact on ingredient changes. The supply of key ingredients like musk (from musk deer) and rhinoceros horn became impossible.

Pharmaceutical companies developed alternatives such as synthetic musk (e.g., civet musk) or the key component L-muscone to replace natural musk. This exemplifies how traditional medicine adapts to international regulations and scientific advances.

Types of Uwhang

The key ingredient Uwhang (bezoar), which gives the prescription its name, is scarce and expensive in its natural form. Therefore, ’ex vivo cultured bezoars’ created by implanting nuclei into cow gallbladders or chemically synthesized ‘artificial bezoars’ are used. The type of bezoar used significantly influences product price and perceived efficacy.

Birth of a People’s Essential Medicine: Commercialization and Branding

After liberation, Uwhang Cheongsimwon began mass production within the modern pharmaceutical industry framework. Joseon Muhyak (Solpyo) and Kwangdong Pharmaceutical led the market.

In particular, Kwangdong Pharmaceutical, which launched the ‘Turtle Brand Wonbang Uwhang Cheongsimwon’ in 1974, earned consumer trust by emphasizing high-quality ingredients, symbolized by the founder Choi Soo-bu’s ‘Choi’s stubbornness’.

Interestingly, during its entry into the Japanese market, it gained a reputation as a ‘miracle golf medicine’. A story spread of a Japanese pharmaceutical company president praising it after use, saying “my shots became smoother and my concentration improved, lowering my score,” leading to its reinterpretation as a medicine that enhances performance through mental calmness.

In 1991, a convenient liquid form, Uwhang Cheongsimwon suspension, was introduced, expanding its consumer base to younger generations and solidifying its position as a household essential medicine.

A Medicine That Calms Modern Anxiety

The most dramatic change in Uwhang Cheongsimwon’s history is the shift in its main use from physical emergencies like stroke to mental crises such as exams and interviews.

I myself have experienced relief from extreme nervousness before an important presentation thanks to Uwhang Cheongsimwon. When my heart was pounding and my voice trembling, it helped calm my mind significantly. When do you turn to Uwhang Cheongsimwon?

This change in use reflects the evolving nature of anxiety in Korean society. While the greatest fear in an agrarian society was physical collapse (stroke), in a hypercompetitive society, the ‘social death’ caused by failure has taken its place. The efficacy of Uwhang Cheongsimwon in ‘cooling heart heat and calming the mind’ has been rediscovered as the optimal medicine to manage modern competitive anxiety.

Using Uwhang Cheongsimwon Properly

Modern pharmacological studies show that Uwhang Cheongsimwon effectively reduces anxiety by suppressing sympathetic nervous system excitation and lowering blood pressure. Here are some tips for proper use:

1. Timing: To maximize effect, take about 1 hour before an important event.
2. Pre-test: Some individuals may experience drowsiness or lowered blood pressure due to excessive relaxation. If you have low blood pressure, try half the dose first to check your body’s reaction.
3. Consult a professional: Although it is an over-the-counter medicine, if you have underlying conditions or take other medications, consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

Conclusion: Living Medicine, Uwhang Cheongsimwon

The journey of Uwhang Cheongsimwon is strong evidence of how Korean traditional medicine has transcended eras, innovated, and reinvented itself.

• Recreation of Tradition: It embraced Chinese prescriptions but was reborn as a uniquely Joseon formula by Heo Jun.
• Continuous Evolution: Ingredients have changed to meet scientific safety standards and international environmental regulations, adapting to modern medical demands.
• Reflection of the Spirit of the Times: Its use shifted from stroke treatment to calming modern anxieties, redefining its meaning alongside social change.

Uwhang Cheongsimwon is not a relic of the past but a ’living medicine’ that continues to respond to the pains of the times. Next time you see Uwhang Cheongsimwon at a pharmacy, why not recall the centuries of history and wisdom it contains?