Traditional Korean medicine (known in North Korea as Koryo medicine) refers to the forms of traditional medicine practiced in Korea. History Korean medicine traditions originated in ancient and prehistoric times and can be traced back as far as 3000 B.C. when stone and bone needles were found in North Hamgyong Province, in present-day North Korea. Korean medicine originated from Korea. In Gojoseon, where the founding myth of Korea is recorded, there is a story of a tiger and a bear who wanted to reincarnate in human form and who ate wormwood and garlic. In Jewang Ungi (제왕운기), which was written around the time of Samguk Yusa, wormwood and garlic are described as 'edible medicine', showing that, even in times when incantatory medicine was the mainstream, medicinal herbs were given as curatives in Korea. Medicinal herbs at this time were used as remedial treatment such as easing the pain or tending injury, along with knowing what foods were good for health. Moreover, wormwood and garlic are not found in ancient Chinese herbology, showing that traditional Korean medicine developed unique practices and inherited them from other cultures. Rather than following medicine developed by the Chinese, Korea invented their medicine independently. The medicine that Koreans developed was best-matched to the physical constitution and lifestyle of Koreans. In the period of the Three Kingdoms, traditional Korean medicine was mainly influenced by other traditional medicines such as ancient Chinese medicine. There was important trade with foreign countries during the period of the Three Kingdoms. “In particular, medical knowledge from China and India supplemented the foundation of traditional medicine that had been handed down from the Old Joseon period." In Korea, this has “spurred further developments." “This trend continued into the Unified Silla period, with Korean medicine being blended with Chinese and Indian medicine, and then localized.” In the period of Goryeo, Korea started the establishment of their own unique medicine because of “a lack of development of Chinese medicine, upon the founding of the Yuan Dynasty.” In addition, the medicinal exchange value between Korea and China began to decline. During the continuous trade with the Chinese, the traditional medicine from China was invented based on medicinal knowledge from Korea. Some journals of medical information were first established during the Ming Dynasty in China together with “medical texts." Detailed accounts consisting of medical experiences are included in these specialized texts written by Koreans. In the Goryeo