Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Q Is a non-face-to-face consultation possible?

A. If symptoms are stable, you can start the history-taking and consultation remotely. However, accurate diagnosis and herbal prescription require an in-person visit, and if you have severe pain, difficulty swallowing, or weight loss, we recommend an in-person exam first.

Q I have a foreign-body sensation in my throat and a dry cough, perhaps from reflux. Will these improve too?

A. When stomach acid reflux irritates the throat and bronchi, a foreign-body sensation, chronic cough, and hoarse voice appear together. When reflux is fundamentally reduced, these accompanying symptoms often improve as well.

Q Is there anything I can do right away when sour fluid suddenly rises at home?

A. Don't lie down right away; keep your upper body upright and slowly drink lukewarm water. Slightly raising your upper body while sleeping helps. It is best to avoid tight clothing and late meals.

Q What habits should I build to reduce reflux?

A. Eating slowly and in small amounts, not lying down for 2-3 hours after meals, cutting down on late-night snacks, coffee, and alcohol, and managing weight are key. Small habit changes make as much difference as medication.

Q Won't taking herbal medicine for a long time strain my liver? My stomach is weak too, so I'm worried.

A. A Korean medicine doctor prescribes based on your constitution and stomach condition, minimizing the burden. Properly prescribed herbal medicine is managed so as not to affect liver function, and it actually makes the stomach more comfortable.

Q My reflux is severe during pregnancy. Can I get treatment?

A. During pregnancy, safety comes first. Please tell us you're pregnant first; we guide mainly through lifestyle management, and when treatment is needed, we proceed cautiously only within a range safe for pregnant women.

Q I'm currently taking acid medication from an internal medicine clinic. Is it okay to take herbal medicine together?

A. It's fine to take them together if you space out the timing. We usually advise taking herbal and Western medicine about 1-2 hours apart, and as symptoms improve, we gradually reduce the Western medicine.

Q I frequently buy and take over-the-counter antacids. If I start Korean medicine treatment, should I stop them?

A. You don't have to stop right away. The antacids you used when in urgent discomfort can be continued for a while, and as treatment reduces symptoms, you'll naturally reach for them less.

Q I've had these symptoms for three years now. Can I really eat comfortably like before? How long does treatment usually take?

A. Even long-standing cases can become comfortable once gastric function recovers. Usually, consistent treatment over 1-3 months aims to noticeably reduce the frequency and intensity.

Q It gets better with treatment, but flares up again when I'm stressed or overeat. Can recurrence be prevented?

A. GERD is closely tied to lifestyle and stress, so management matters. Restoring gastric function while managing diet and stress together can lengthen the intervals between flare-ups and lower their intensity.

Q What is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)?

A. It is a condition in which stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus, causing heartburn, sour belching, and a foreign-body sensation in the throat. It tends to occur when the valve between the stomach and esophagus becomes loose or when stomach motility declines.

Q I often work late and live on late-night snacks and coffee, and sour fluid rises as soon as I lie down. Can it still help if I can't fully fix my eating habits?

A. Late-night snacks, coffee, and lying down right after eating directly trigger reflux. Treatment proceeds even if you can't perfect your habits, but reducing them alongside treatment makes the effect much faster and longer-lasting.

Q I'm in sales with many drinking gatherings that are hard to avoid. Which foods especially worsen reflux?

A. Alcohol, coffee, carbonated drinks, greasy food, spicy food, and chocolate are typical. Overeating and late meals also have a big impact. Just reducing the amount and not lying down right after eating reduces the frequency.

Q I run my own business and find it hard to come often. Realistically, how often do I need to visit?

A. You don't need to come every day. We usually proceed with acupuncture once or twice a week and daily herbal medicine, so even busy people can be treated while maintaining their routine.

Q I'm looking for a clinic near Dong-gu, Incheon. How does the first visit proceed?

A. At the first visit, we listen in detail about your symptoms, diet, and lifestyle, and examine the state of your stomach. Based on that, we decide the treatment plan, herbal prescription, and lifestyle guidance together.

Q What should I prepare before the consultation?

A. If you organize when symptoms are severe, which foods or situations worsen them, the medications you're taking, and your test results, the consultation will be faster and more accurate.

Q I have taken antacids for over two years, and the burning comes right back if I stop. Can I live without medication?

A. Antacids only suppress stomach acid temporarily; the gastric environment that causes reflux remains, so symptoms recur easily when you stop. By improving the weakened stomach motility, we can aim for a state in which you no longer rely on medication.

Q The endoscopy showed nothing wrong, but I keep feeling burning and discomfort. Can Korean medicine help even with something tests don't detect?

A. Even without clear inflammation on endoscopy, symptoms are often severe. Such functional problems that tests don't easily detect are exactly where Korean medicine—which regulates stomach movement and sensitivity—shows its strength.