How to Take Gongjindan: Why You Should Know About Musk

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This is how you should take Gongjindan.

When I explain Gongjindan in the Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic’s Gongjindan consultation room, the first thing I tell patients is not “what kind of medicine it is,” but “how to take it.” Gongjindan is a tonic that shows a relatively clear difference in the felt effects depending on when, in what condition, and in what manner it is taken.

Therefore, rather than simply judging Gongjindan by whether or not it is taken, it is important to understand both the characteristics of the medicinal ingredients and the method of administration.

When understanding Gongjindan, you must first look at musk. Gongjindan is a tonic composed of various medicinal ingredients such as musk, deer antler velvet (Nokyong), Angelica gigas (Dangui), and Cornus officinalis (Sansuyu). Among these, the content and characteristics of musk are crucial factors in determining the nature of Gongjindan. Therefore, when taking Gongjindan, it is important to understand what kind of medicinal ingredient musk is, rather than simply thinking of it as ‘eating’ medicine.

Both when explaining Gongjindan and when describing how to take it, I first talk about the timing and method of administration, not just whether or not to take it. The core of Gongjindan’s administration method lies in understanding the characteristics of musk and taking it in a way that aligns with them. Gongjindan is a medicine to be ‘chewed’ or ‘dissolved.’ It is not a medicine to be swallowed with water.

Since the essence of musk is its fragrance, not its taste, it is important to slowly chew it in your mouth, breathing through your nose, and fully experiencing the scent of musk. The slower you chew, the longer the musk fragrance lasts, and the characteristics of Gongjindan are felt more distinctly.

How to enhance the musk fragrance before and after taking Gongjindan

It is advisable to brush your teeth and clean your mouth before taking Gongjindan.

This is because lingering food odors in your mouth can obscure the musk fragrance. Conversely, it is best not to brush your teeth immediately after taking it. The musk fragrance is transmitted through the mouth, nose, and olfactory senses, not the gastrointestinal tract, so it is advisable to postpone brushing your teeth for about 30 minutes after consumption.

The musk fragrance is perceived differently by each person. Some people who have taken Gongjindan before say that the musk fragrance feels different from what they remember. The scent of musk tends to be perceived more strongly during the first administration or when the body’s fatigue level is high.

Furthermore, the intensity felt may vary depending on an individual’s physical condition and sensitivity to scents. The slower you chew, the more distinctly the musk fragrance is perceived.

Understanding musk granules and texture

While taking Gongjindan, you might occasionally notice a slightly different taste or texture in your mouth. This is because musk is prepared in granular form rather than being mixed all at once.

Musk granules may adhere to the lumps of deer antler velvet, Angelica gigas, or Cornus officinalis during the preparation or pill-making process, so their size or shape might appear different from before. However, since musk is the core medicinal ingredient of Gongjindan, it is precisely weighed down to 0.001g and prepared. Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic’s original formula ‘Seed-Musk Gongjindan’ is a Gongjindan prepared by forming the core medicinal ingredient, musk, into a seed-like shape and placing it in the center.

Why should musk be taken this way?

The primary action of musk lies in the process of perceiving its fragrance rather than ‘ingesting its components.’ Since the scent of musk is transmitted through olfactory cells, it is important to take it slowly, fully appreciating its aroma.

Therefore, rather than rushing to take Gongjindan, it’s better to briefly take a moment to compose yourself and allow your body time to accept the medicine. Musk determines the nature of Gongjindan. The differences in price and characteristics of Gongjindan mostly stem from whether musk is used. Musk is the most crucial medicinal ingredient among all components of Gongjindan and is a pharmaceutical that cannot be handled by the general public.

While Gongjindan prescribed at Korean medicine clinics is prepared using musk, products sold online or through home shopping often use agarwood, costus root, or civet musk instead of musk. This difference leads to variations in Gongjindan’s characteristics and price.

The core of taking Gongjindan is not ‘how often you take it,’ but ‘how you take it.’ At Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic, we explain Gongjindan not as a simple tonic, but as a medicine to be taken after first assessing the body’s condition, at the appropriate time, and in the correct manner. As Gongjindan is a representative tonic traditionally widely used, we hope you fully experience its benefits through proper administration.

We hope you will join Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic, which shares valuable information for a healthy life. Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic in Suji-gu pursues evidence-based medicine and integrative medicine.

This post was written directly by the medical staff of Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic to provide medical information, in compliance with Article 56(2) and Article 57(3) of the Medical Service Act. The duration and outcome of treatment may vary from person to person, so please consult a qualified practitioner before beginning treatment.