Ethno-etiology
This is a picture of my younger brother Noah who is in 6th grade and my family and I all agree that he suffers from a mild case of Middle Schooler Syndrome. In anthropological terms, Middle Schooler Syndrome is an example of ethno-etiology which is the way some cultures explain specific health problems and suffering. The term is originally from Japan and diffused into Korean culture due to similarities in youth culture. The symptoms of Middle Schooler Syndrome include an inflation of arrogance, audacity, and rebellion in teens as they enter puberty. In my brother’s case, he has recently shown more efforts to seem “cool” by buying only specific brands of clothing and distancing himself from family events to play video games instead. Luckily, it is only a mild case. In Korea, the symptoms are much more magnified with teens viciously yelling at their teachers, hanging out in the city late at night, and smoking. I think that these examples of rebellion are a response to puberty in general, but most importantly due to the immense stress that teens, even as young as middle school, feel from their Asian parents to excel.
Phytotherapy
In most non-Western cultures, plants are used for their medicinal properties which is called phytotherapy. When I visited Korea, it was not uncommon to see stands selling medicinal herbs and roots at outdoor markets or even in commercial supermarkets. One plant that I grew up with is the Korean red ginseng which is known to strengthen immunity, help destress, and boost metabolism. Because it can only be grown organically and harvested every six years, red ginseng is quite pricey, but my parents continuously get it shipped from Korea. The main form in which I consumed it was through the red ginseng tea that my mom would brew and force my brother and I to drink even though it was always bitter.