Main ClinicDigestive Disorders
DIGESTIVE CANCER CARE
Gastrointestinal Cancer
During cancer treatment, are you unsure how to care for your exhausted body?
This is outpatient Korean medicine treatment received while you continue standard treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy) with your attending physician. We help ease uncomfortable symptoms during treatment and support your energy and appetite.
of Hoechundang care
- POINT 01
A Korean medicine treatment plan tailored to your attending physician’s treatment plan, based on records from your conventional medicine hospital
- POINT 02
Focused on easing symptoms during cancer treatment, such as nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, and indigestion, and managing quality of life
- POINT 03
Care by a Korean internal medicine specialist trained at the Korean Medicine Cancer Center of Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital at Gangdong
01SELF CHECK
Are you struggling with these symptoms during cancer treatment?
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Tap the items that apply to you.
We provide care according to your current condition, from early cancer to advanced cancer and metastatic or recurrent cancer.
02WHY IT HAPPENS
What Korean Medicine Treatment Does During Cancer Care
After a cancer diagnosis, you receive standard treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy according to your attending physician’s plan. During this process, your energy may decline and many uncomfortable symptoms may occur, and inpatient treatment can also be financially and emotionally burdensome. Hoechundang’s constitutional immunity & cancer treatment is a care program that integratively plans Korean medicine treatment within a range that does not burden the body while you receive standard treatment.
- 01
Cancers Treated
We mainly treat digestive system cancers such as stomach cancer, colon cancer, and rectal cancer, as well as patients diagnosed with liver cancer, bile duct or gallbladder cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
- 02
People Receiving Standard Treatment
During surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, we help support recovery of energy and overall condition with Korean medicine treatment tailored to your constitution.
- 03
Those With Recurrent or Metastatic Cancer
After discussing the current condition and prognosis together with the patient and caregiver, we establish a treatment plan and provide Korean medicine treatment.
- 04
Those Unable to Be Hospitalized
Many people who have difficulty being hospitalized for financial or practical reasons, or for whom inpatient life does not suit their constitution, receive steady outpatient treatment.
The treatment goals are symptom relief and maintaining quality of life. Korean medicine treatment does not replace standard cancer treatment and is provided alongside your attending physician’s care.
CONSULTATION
Consider a Consultation Alongside Your Current Treatment
If you bring records from your conventional medicine hospital, we will review your current condition together.
PROCESS
How Care Proceeds
- 01
Consultation · Pulse Diagnosis
We listen carefully to your symptoms, lifestyle habits, and treatment history, then assess your condition through pulse and tongue diagnosis.
- 02
Detailed Testing
We check organ function, energy level, and autonomic nervous system balance with tests suited to your condition.
- 03
Pattern Identification · Diagnosis
We combine your test results and constitution to find the underlying cause of your symptoms.
- 04
1:1 Customized Prescription
We design the needed treatments for each person, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and moxibustion.
- 05
Progress Management
We monitor your progress through regular tests and consultations and adjust prescriptions as needed.
03DIAGNOSIS
We First Check Your Constitution, Energy, and Nutritional Status
TEST 01Iris Genetic Constitution Analysis
Using the iris, we assess the strong and weak aspects of your inborn constitution, congenital and acquired weaknesses, and current health status. We analyze constitutional vulnerabilities and guide future health management methods.
TEST 02Ryodoraku Meridian Function Test
We assess overall energy through the qi and blood status of the 12 meridians. For people undergoing cancer treatment, the overall energy status is very important in establishing a treatment plan.
TEST 03InBody Phase Angle Test
We check the body’s nutritional status and cellular health.
If possible, please bring records from your conventional medicine hospital when you visit. After reviewing your progress, we will decide together on treatment methods and a plan suited to your condition during the consultation.
04TREATMENT
Korean Medicine Treatment Matched to the Treatment Stage
Each type of cancer has a different course and treatment. Based on an understanding of the course by cancer type and the treatment you are currently receiving, we plan Korean medicine treatment appropriate for the stage.
Early Gastrointestinal Cancer · Postoperative Care
The key is to recover well while reducing postoperative complications and aftereffects. We care for the body with a focus on restoring energy and improving appetite.
Advanced Gastrointestinal Cancer · During Chemotherapy or Radiation Therapy
We help ease uncomfortable symptoms and aftereffects caused by chemotherapy and radiation therapy so that you can better tolerate and continue the planned treatment.
Metastatic Cancer
The treatment goal is to ease a range of symptoms and help protect quality of life.
Integrated Outpatient Management
We combine dietary counseling with exercise, heat therapy, and Korean medicine treatment. We plan care so that you can continue treatment steadily within a financially manageable range.
05EXPERTISE
Medical Team Experienced in Caring for Cancer Patients
Training at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Cancer Center at Gangdong, participated in developing clinical practice guidelines for cancer symptom relief
4th-Generation Korean Medicine Doctor · Korean Medicine Internal Medicine Specialist
Dr. Hansung Ryu, Chief Director
- Specialist Training, Korean Medicine Cancer Center, Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital at Gangdong
- Training at a Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospital (Joslin Diabetes Center)
- Training at the Block Center (Integrative Cancer Center, USA)
- Researcher in the Development of Korean Medicine Standard Clinical Practice Guidelines for Cancer Symptom Relief
SkinDigestive SystemDiabetes · MetabolismConstitutional Immunity & CancerPain · Traffic Accidents
Presidential Physician · Twice Served as Director of Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital
Dr. Bongha Ryu, Honorary Director
- PhD in Korean Medicine Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University
- Head Professor of Gastroenterology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University
- Twice Served as Director of Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital, Kyung Hee Medical Center
- Former Presidential Physician for President Lee Myung-bak
Digestive SystemRespiratory SystemFatigue · Tonic Herbal Medicine
- Dr. Hansung Ryu, Chief Director: Experience managing inpatient and outpatient care for cancer patients while working at the Korean Medicine Cancer Center of Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital at Gangdong
- Experience analyzing and managing the course of each cancer type in Korean and conventional medicine collaborative treatment programs
- Balanced care combining traditional Korean medicine and modern medicine, supported by training experience at a Harvard Medical School-affiliated research center
- Published SCI(E)-level papers, including a study on Jaungo for radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients
- Cancer-related joint research with his father, Dr. Bongha Ryu, Honorary Director (former Director of Kyung Hee Medical Center Korean Medicine Hospital)
Related research
Extracellular-to-Intracellular Fluid Volume Ratio as a Prognostic Factor for Survival in Patients With Metastatic Cancer
In a study analyzing 87 patients with metastatic cancer, a higher extracellular water ratio (the proportion of water outside the cells) was associated with a poorer survival prognosis and was reported as a stronger prognostic factor than performance status, leukocytosis, and fluid retention (SCI(E)-level journal).
Efficacy and Safety of the Traditional Herbal Medicine, Gamiguibi-tang, in Patients With Cancer-Related Sleep Disturbance: A Prospective, Randomized, Wait-List-Controlled, Pilot Study
In a preliminary study of 30 cancer patients with sleep disorders, the group receiving Gamiguibi-tang (加味歸脾湯) showed significant improvement in the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) (SCI(E)-level journal).
One Case of Korean Medicine Treatment in an Elderly Patient With Stage 4 Gallbladder Cancer for Whom Chemotherapy Was Not Possible
This case report describes the course of one elderly patient with stage 4 gallbladder cancer who could not receive chemotherapy because of coexisting Parkinson's Disease and who showed symptom relief and maintained quality of life while receiving herbal medicine, acupuncture, and moxibustion treatment.
The above content reflects study and case report results reported in the relevant papers and does not guarantee an individual treatment effect. A case report describes the course of one person and does not indicate a general treatment effect, and Korean medicine treatment does not replace standard cancer treatment.
WHY HOECHUNDANG
Why Choose Hoechundang Kyunghee Ryu Korean Medicine Clinic
- 01
For 4 Generations Since 1904
For 4 generations, we have carried on Hoechundang’s treatment principle of seeing the stomach and intestines as the foundation of health.
- 02
Family Medical Team from Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital
Dr. Bongha Ryu, Honorary Director, who twice served as director of Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital and as a presidential physician; Dr. Hansung Ryu, Chief Director, a Korean medicine internal medicine specialist; and Dr. Seungwon Baek, Director, first author of an SCI-level paper on women’s health, provide care together.
- 03
Prepared In-House at Our Herbal Medicine Research Lab
Based on the research of our affiliated Herbal Medicine Research Institute, we prepare prescriptions in-house and use verified herbal ingredients at a level supplied to Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital.
- 04
15 Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatment Rooms
We expanded our treatment rooms so patients can receive a variety of treatments, such as acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, Cupping, large moxibustion, radiofrequency, thermal dome therapy, Chuna Manual Therapy, and traction therapy, with minimal waiting.
06FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
QCan I receive Korean medicine treatment during chemotherapy?
While you receive conventional cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy), we provide Korean medicine treatment according to an integrated plan within a range that does not burden the body. If you bring your medical progress records and the medications you are taking, we will review your attending physician’s treatment plan before deciding on treatment.
QCan I receive treatment as an outpatient without being hospitalized?
Many people receive steady outpatient treatment because hospitalization is financially difficult or inpatient life is not a good fit for them. We plan dietary counseling, exercise and heat therapy, and Korean medicine treatment together.
QWhat cancers do you treat?
We mainly treat digestive system cancers such as stomach cancer, colon cancer, and rectal cancer, as well as liver cancer, bile duct or gallbladder cancer, and pancreatic cancer. We provide consultations tailored to your condition, from early cancer to advanced cancer and metastatic cancer.
QCan I use folk remedies at the same time?
Relying on unverified folk remedies may be risky. Because cancer requires detailed knowledge of the course and treatment for each type, necessary treatment should be decided by considering your current treatment and progress together.
CONSULTATION
Consider a Consultation Alongside Your Current Treatment
If you bring records from your conventional medicine hospital, we will review your current condition together.
RELATED
Related Digestive Disorders
Digestive DisordersChronic GastritisDo you still have heartburn and bloating even though you keep taking gastritis medication?Learn more
Digestive DisordersUlcerative Colitis · Crohn's DiseaseDo abdominal pain and diarrhea come back just when you thought you were getting better, making everyday life feel uncertain?Learn more
Digestive DisordersFunctional Dyspepsia · Damjeok (Phlegm Accumulation)My endoscopy is normal, so why do I always feel bloated and have indigestion?Learn more
RESERVATION
Gastrointestinal Cancer:
start with a consultation
Leave your details and we will contact you in order during clinic hours. First-time visitors are welcome — we start by carefully understanding your current condition.
+82-2-792-1904- Mon · Tue · Wed · Thu09:30 – 19:30
- Fri09:30 – 18:30
- Sat09:30 – 14:30 (open without a lunch break)
- LunchWeekdays 13:30 – 14:30