Korean Herbal Medicine and Korean Health Supplements: An Honest Guide
What Korean herbal medicine (hanbang, hanuihak) is, how Korean health supplements are regulated by the MFDS, what the evidence says about red ginseng and HemoHIM, and how to choose and use them safely.
Short answer: Korean herbal medicine (hanbang, 한방, or hanuihak, 한의학) is a traditional system that has developed over centuries and is a licensed medical profession in South Korea today. Korean health supplements are a separate, regulated product category. Some, such as red ginseng, have mixed research; others only small studies. Traditional use and registration are useful signals, but neither proves a product works for you.
What is hanbang? The Korean medical tradition
Korean traditional medicine shares roots with traditional Chinese medicine, such as the ideas of qi and yin–yang balance, but has its own diagnostic methods and formulas. A well-known Korean contribution is Sasang constitutional medicine, which sorts people into four constitutional types.
Doctors of Korean medicine study at dedicated university programs, pass a national licensing exam and work in their own clinics and hospitals, under a licence separate from conventional physicians. Being a regulated profession does not mean every remedy has been tested in modern clinical trials; many have not.
Core principles of Korean herbal medicine
Hanbang aims to restore overall balance and support the body’s resilience rather than target one symptom. Formulas usually combine several herbs, on the traditional reasoning that they balance each other and moderate side effects. For most formulas this has not been tested in people.
Key medicinal herbs in Korean tradition
- Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng): traditionally used for energy and stress. Red ginseng is ginseng root that has been steamed and dried.
- Angelica gigas (Korean angelica): traditionally used for “blood” health; a different species from Chinese angelica (Angelica sinensis), with different main compounds.
- Astragalus (hwanggi) and licorice root (gamcho): common in traditional formulas, for “defensive qi” and as a “harmonizing” herb.
How Korean health supplements are regulated
In South Korea, health functional foods are regulated by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), which reviews ingredients and the functional claims a product may make. Approved claims are cautious, for example “may help improve immune function”, and may not promise to treat disease. In the United States, by contrast, the FDA does not approve dietary supplements before sale.
Korean red ginseng: what the evidence says
According to the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), Asian ginseng has been studied for uses such as mental performance, blood sugar and fatigue, but the evidence is limited or mixed. Short-term use appears safe for most adults; side effects can include headaches, sleep problems and digestive upset, and it may interact with some medicines, including diabetes medicines.
From traditional herbs to a modern supplement: HemoHIM
HemoHIM is a liquid extract of Angelica gigas, Cnidium officinale and peony root (Paeonia lactiflora), developed by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) with the manufacturer Kolmar BNH and sold by Atomy. The MFDS registers it as a health functional food with the claims that it “may help improve immune function” and “may help reduce fatigue”. See what is HemoHIM and its three herbs.
The human evidence is small: a few short trials, partly by the developer, and one 8-week placebo-controlled trial with lower fatigue scores; the rest is laboratory or animal work (HemoHIM studies). In 2021 Hong Kong and Taiwan told consumers to stop using it after methoxsalen, an undeclared prescription drug, was found in samples and liver-injury cases were reported; whether HemoHIM caused them is debated (Is HemoHIM banned?). This site is run by an independent Atomy distributor. As of October 2026, HemoHIM is sold again in Atomy’s Singapore mall and, as HemoHIM G (艾多美 煥力飲G), in Atomy’s Taiwan mall; it is still not sold in Hong Kong.
Safety: interactions and quality
- Herbs can interact with medicines such as blood thinners, diabetes medicines and immunosuppressants. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about every supplement you take.
- Ask a doctor first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, buying for a child, have liver or autoimmune disease, or face surgery.
- Herbal products can be contaminated or contain undeclared ingredients. Buy from the manufacturer or an authorized seller; see unauthorized sellers and HemoHIM side effects and safety.
How to choose Korean health supplements
- Check the regulatory status and the exact approved claim.
- Look for published human trials: how many people, how long, who funded them.
- Avoid products that promise to cure or treat diseases.
- Buy from reputable sources with clear labels.
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start.
❓ What is Korean herbal medicine called?
It is called “hanbang” (한방) or “hanuihak” (한의학). In South Korea it is a licensed medical profession with its own university programs, national exam and hospitals, sharing roots with traditional Chinese medicine.
❓ Are Korean herbal supplements safe?
In South Korea, the MFDS reviews the ingredients and claims of health functional foods. Safety still depends on the product, the dose and your health, so buy from reputable sources and ask your doctor or pharmacist first if you have a condition or take medicines.
❓ What are common Korean health supplements?
Korean red ginseng is the best-known example. Others include various herbal extracts, mushroom-based products and HemoHIM, which is registered in Korea as a health functional food with approved claims for immune function and fatigue.
❓ Does Korean red ginseng work?
According to NCCIH, the research on Asian ginseng is limited or mixed. It appears safe for most adults short term but may interact with some medicines.
Want to try HemoHIM? Buy it genuine directly from Atomy — registration is free.
References
- Asian Ginseng — National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
- Using Dietary Supplements Wisely — National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
- Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- 애터미 헤모힘 — functional claims, intake and cautions — Food Safety Korea (MFDS)
- Seo JW et al. Effect of herbal preparation HemoHIM on fatigue level and exercise performance — Phytomedicine Plus (2022)
- Public urged not to buy or consume oral product “Hemohim” (2 November 2021) — Hong Kong Government (Department of Health)
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before taking supplements, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, take medicines or have a medical condition.
Where to buy genuine HemoHIM
Check whether HemoHIM is sold in your country and the member price in Atomy’s official mall.
Check availabilityThis site is run by an independent, registered Atomy distributor. If you register through our links, we may earn a commission. Prices are the same.