Q What is gastritis?
A It is a state of inflammation in the stomach lining, causing burning, bloating, and epigastric pain. Common causes are irritating foods, stress, Helicobacter, and drugs like painkillers, and it tends to occur when the stomach's recovery power declines.
Detailed Answer
A normal stomach lining has a mucus layer that protects itself from stomach acid. When this mucosal barrier weakens due to irritating foods, heavy drinking, stress, long-term use of painkillers (NSAIDs), or Helicobacter infection, stomach acid directly irritates the lining, causing inflammation and damage. There is acute gastritis that ends quickly, but if irritation continues, it hardens into a chronic condition with recurring burning and bloating.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Rather than simply suppressing stomach acid, our clinic focuses on "why the stomach lining weakened and why it doesn't recover well." We concentrate on raising the stomach's recovery power and digestive rhythm to build a sturdy stomach whose lining doesn't break down under the same irritation.
Related FAQs
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Q
My endoscopy showed "atrophic gastritis" and "intestinal metaplasia," and I'm scared it will lead to stomach cancer. Can Korean medicine prevent it?
#Possibility / Realistic Goals
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Q
I have gastritis and reflux esophagitis together, plus I tested positive for H. pylori. Do I have to treat all of these separately?
#Comorbidities
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Q
Is there anything I can do at home right away when my stomach suddenly burns and my epigastrium hurts?
#Lifestyle Management
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Q
What habits should I build to avoid recurrence?
#Lifestyle Management
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My stomach is weak, so I worry herbal medicine will burden it more. Is it okay for a gastritis patient to take herbal medicine?
#Safety