Main ClinicDigestive Disorders
REFLUX ESOPHAGITIS · LARYNGOPHARYNGEAL REFLUX
Reflux Esophagitis · Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
Does it feel like something is stuck in your throat, with sour fluid coming up and even disturbing your sleep?
Reflux symptoms are often not only inflammation of the esophagus and throat, but also occur together with reduced stomach motility. We treat both recovery of stomach movement and relief of symptoms around the throat.
of Hoechundang care
- POINT 01
Identify causes by distinguishing reflux esophagitis, laryngopharyngeal reflux, Barrett's esophagus, and maehaekgi (Plum-Pit Qi)
- POINT 02
Check stomach movement and autonomic nervous system status with electrogastrography and HRV
- POINT 03
Combined herbal medicine and acupuncture-moxibustion treatment for throat foreign-body sensation and burning
01SELF CHECK
Are these symptoms continuing?
0/ 7
Tap the items that apply to you.
02WHY IT HAPPENS
How far has the reflux come up?
The body is connected in the order of the pharynx and larynx, esophagus, and stomach. The disease name differs depending on where inflammation develops from spicy, salty, irritating eating habits or reflux of stomach acid and stomach contents. In many cases, symptoms do not improve well with ordinary medications even when the inflammation is not severe.
- 01
Reflux Esophagitis
This is a condition in which stomach acid or stomach contents reflux into the esophagus due to factors such as excessive stomach acid secretion, causing erosive inflammation or ulcers in the esophagus. The main symptoms are heartburn, a sensation of heat or burning in the pit of the stomach, and a feeling of reflux.
- 02
Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
This is a condition in which refluxed material reaches the larynx just above the esophagus, causing inflammation and swelling. In addition to a foreign-body sensation in the throat, it can cause various symptoms.
- 03
Barrett's Esophagus
This is a condition in which ongoing stomach acid reflux causes the mucosa of the lower esophagus to change from its original squamous epithelium into columnar epithelial cells, so it cannot function properly. Caution is needed because reports indicate a higher incidence of malignant tumors such as esophageal adenocarcinoma.
- 04
Maehaekgi (梅核氣)
This is a symptom in which inflammation is not severe, but it feels as if something is stuck in the throat, and it cannot be spit out or swallowed down. It appears without structural abnormalities, so it needs to be distinguished from laryngopharyngeal reflux.
In Korean medicine, these symptoms are viewed as a state in which multiple symptoms overlap. These include belching (噯氣: burping), fullness and blockage (痞滿: fullness as if the pit of the stomach is blocked), acid regurgitation (呑酸: sour fluid coming up), hiccups (呃逆: hiccups), and gastric discomfort (嘈囃: burning and emptiness in the stomach).
03WHY TREAT EARLY
When throat symptoms last, they can affect daily life and even sleep
When heartburn, reflux, and a foreign-body sensation in the throat continue, the nerves often become sensitive, and headaches, dizziness, light sleep, and insomnia can interfere with sleep. These discomforts are becoming increasingly common, so active treatment is needed. If damjeok is also present, damjeok treatment should be provided together.
CONSULTATION
Consider a consultation before symptoms become long-standing
If you bring your test results, 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.
Helpful to bringIf you bring your blood test and endoscopy results, we can provide more thorough care.
04DIAGNOSIS
We check the condition of the stomach hidden behind reflux
TEST 01Electrogastrography (EGG)
Because recovery of stomach movement is also central to treating reflux symptoms, we first check how the stomach moves. By comparing the stomach's electrical signals before and after meals, we assess emptying ability. Only electrodes are attached to the abdomen, so there is almost no pain.
TEST 02Ryodoraku Meridian Function Test
This test measures the function of the organs and meridians at acupuncture points on the hands and feet to assess energy level and the deficiency-excess (虛實) pattern of the condition, and to estimate the treatment period.
TEST 03Hand Yangming Meridian Test (HRV)
When sensitivity, insomnia, and headaches occur together, we check whether autonomic nervous system balance has been disrupted and whether activity has decreased. We also review the stress index.
Electrogastrography results are classified by stomach movement compared with normal.
Mild Gastrointestinal Disorder
About 70% movement compared with normal
Moderate Gastrointestinal Disorder
About 40% movement compared with normal
Severe Gastrointestinal Disorder
About 20% movement compared with normal
05TREATMENT
We restore stomach movement and address throat discomfort together
The health of the esophagus and pharynx-larynx, the pathway from the mouth to the stomach, begins with recovery of gastrointestinal motility. To help reduce throat foreign-body sensation, burning, and pain, we add herbal medicine and acupuncture-moxibustion treatment aimed at regulating smooth muscle and the vagus nerve. We also provide lifestyle guidance to reduce mucosal inflammation.
- 01Strengthening gastrointestinal function
- 02Restoring gastrointestinal energy
- 03Strengthening gastrointestinal movement
- 04Strengthening damaged gastrointestinal mucosa
- 05Easing chronic inflammation
- 06Toxin Removal from damjeok
- 07Raising abdominal temperature
- 08Easing autonomic nervous system stress
One-on-One Personalized Herbal Medicine
Prescriptions vary depending on where reflux occurs (esophagus or pharynx-larynx), the degree of inflammation, and whether maehaekgi or damjeok is present. After the consultation, we decide whether to first reduce discomfort in the throat and chest or to also restore gastrointestinal function and energy, then adjust the herbs accordingly.
Bowi Gongjindan (補胃供辰丹) · Chiwi-san (治胃散)
For those whose energy has declined due to long-standing gastrointestinal disorders, we may also prescribe Bowi Gongjindan, made with ingredients such as deer antler, atractylodes, amomum fruit, ginseng, and astragalus. After symptoms stabilize with decoctions, we help maintain the improved state with convenient extract powder medicines such as Chiwi-san.
Acupuncture · Moxibustion · Radiofrequency Thermotherapy
Together with herbal medicine, most patients receive treatment 2–3 times per week.
- Bowi and Bojang acupuncture: Using abdominal, back, and limb acupuncture points selected according to pattern identification, it helps restore gastrointestinal function and regulates disrupted autonomic nervous system balance.
- Large moxibustionWarms a cold abdomen to help the stomach's digestive movement.
- Radiofrequency thermotherapy: Raises the temperature deep in the abdomen to help reduce damjeok and support movement of a stiffened stomach.
06TREATMENT STEPS
Treatment proceeds in 3 steps
STEP 1Bowi (Tonifying the Stomach) Treatment
We restore gastrointestinal function and energy together.
- STEP 2
Chiwi (Treating the Stomach) Treatment
We focus on maintaining recovered gastrointestinal function to help prevent recurrence.
- STEP 3
Ongoing Treatment
We correct lifestyle habits such as eating habits and continue regular care.
07CASES
Changes in stomach movement seen on electrogastrography
These are electrogastrography graphs from before treatment → after 8 months of treatment → after 1 year of treatment.
These are electrogastrography graphs from before treatment → after 2 months of treatment → after 6 months of intensive treatment.
These are electrogastrography test results from actual patients who visited the clinic, and results may vary by individual.
08EXPERTISE
A medical team that looks at the entire digestive system, from the esophagus to the stomach
About 200 research papers on digestive system disorders (Gastroenterology Team during service at Kyung Hee Medical Center)
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
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
- 50 years of gastrointestinal care experience from Dr. Bongha Ryu, Honorary Director, former Director of Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital and former Chief of Gastroenterology
- Published about 200 research papers with the gastroenterology team while working at Kyung Hee University Medical Center
- All family medical team members are from Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital, and a father and son who are Korean internal medicine specialists provide care together
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.
09FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
QI still have a foreign-body sensation in my throat even after taking medication for reflux esophagitis.
In many cases, symptoms do not improve well with ordinary medications even when the inflammation is not severe. It may be maehaekgi, in which it feels as if something is stuck in the throat without structural abnormalities, or reduced stomach movement may be present as well, so we check the causes together with tests such as electrogastrography.
QCan a slight cough also be due to reflux?
Frequent slight cough, phlegm, or a habit of clearing the throat for no clear reason can appear with chronic laryngopharyngitis or esophagitis. If cough is the main symptom, please also refer to the chronic cough care page.
QI was diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus.
Barrett's esophagus is a condition that requires caution because reports indicate a higher incidence of malignant tumors such as esophageal adenocarcinoma. If you bring your previous test results, such as endoscopy reports, when you visit, we will review your current condition together.
QHow often should I receive acupuncture treatment?
It varies from person to person, but while taking herbal medicine, most patients receive acupuncture and moxibustion treatment 2–3 times a week.
CONSULTATION
Consider a consultation before symptoms become long-standing
If you bring your test results, we will review your current condition together.
RELATED
Related Conditions
Digestive DisordersChronic GastritisDo you still have heartburn and bloating even though you keep taking gastritis medication?Learn more- Digestive DisordersFunctional Dyspepsia · Damjeok (Phlegm Accumulation)My endoscopy is normal, so why do I always feel bloated and have indigestion?Learn more
Respiratory ConditionsChronic cough · Common Cold · PharyngitisHave you had a cough that has not stopped for weeks, or does your throat always feel scratchy?Learn more
RESERVATION
Reflux Esophagitis · Laryngopharyngeal Reflux:
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