Functional Dyspepsia

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

A. If your symptoms are stable, you can start with a non-face-to-face intake and consultation. However, accurate diagnosis and herbal prescription require an in-person visit, and if you have weight loss, swallowing difficulty, or repeated vomiting, we recommend an in-person examination first.

Q I have indigestion, and it gets worse when I'm stressed, and I can't sleep well either. Will these symptoms improve as well?

A. Functional dyspepsia is closely linked to stress and sleep through the brain-gut axis, so digestive symptoms and tension/insomnia influence each other. In many cases, managing tension along with gastrointestinal function leads to the improvement of accompanying symptoms as well.

Q When my stomach suddenly feels blocked and bloated after eating, is there anything I can do at home right away?

A. Don't lie down right after eating; walk lightly or sit for 10-20 minutes. Sip lukewarm water slowly and loosen any clothing that constricts your abdomen. Deep breathing to relieve tension also helps.

Q What habits can reduce indigestion in daily life?

A. Eating slowly, chewing thoroughly and in small amounts, avoiding binge eating, late-night snacks, and irritating foods, taking a light walk after meals, and managing stress are key. Small habit changes can make as big a difference as medication.

Q My stomach is weak, so taking medicine only makes me feel more uncomfortable. Will taking herbal medicine for a long time be safe for my digestive system?

A. A doctor of Korean medicine prescribes based on your constitution and stomach condition to minimize the burden. In fact, herbal medicine is formulated to help the weakened stomach with digestion and absorption, thereby making the stomach feel comfortable.

Q Indigestion aside, I'm scared it might be something serious. Are there specific signs that mean I must get a detailed examination?

A. Unintended rapid weight loss, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), repeated vomiting, and bleeding signs like black or bloody stools require immediate detailed examination. If you don't have these warning signs, it's likely functional dyspepsia.

Q I'm taking digestive aids and stomach medicine from an internal medicine clinic. Is it okay to take herbal medicine together?

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

Q I recently had Helicobacter eradication treatment, but bloating remains. Can I take herbal medicine while on antibiotics?

A. Herbal medicine can be combined even during eradication treatment if you space them out. However, finishing the eradication antibiotic course comes first, and we treat the functional bloating remaining after eradication with Korean medicine together.

Q This bloating has lasted years. Can I really eat comfortably like before? How long does treatment usually take?

A. Even long-standing cases can become much more comfortable once stomach function recovers. Treatment usually continues steadily for 1-3 months, aiming for a noticeable reduction in the frequency and intensity of bloating.

Q I improve with treatment, but it relapses when I'm stressed or overeat. Can recurrence be prevented?

A. Functional dyspepsia is closely tied to lifestyle and stress, so management is important. By restoring stomach function and combining diet and stress management, you can lengthen the interval between relapses and lower their intensity.

Q My endoscopy is clean, but my stomach is always bloated and my epigastric area feels stuffy. What exactly is functional dyspepsia?

A. It is a condition where digestive symptoms repeat even without clear abnormalities like ulcers or inflammation in the stomach. It arises from a combination of delayed gastric emptying, gastric accommodation disorder where the stomach doesn't expand well during meals, and visceral hypersensitivity where sensation has become heightened.

Q I run a restaurant with irregular meals. I feel full after just a little food and bloated for a long time after eating. Will treatment work even if I can't fix all my eating habits?

A. Early satiety after just a little food and post-meal bloating are typical of postprandial distress syndrome, where the stomach empties late and doesn't expand well. Treatment proceeds even if you can't fix everything perfectly, but adding the habit of eating slowly and in small amounts makes it much faster.

Q As an office worker who enjoys coffee and late-night snacks, which foods especially worsen indigestion?

A. Greasy and spicy foods, coffee, alcohol, carbonated drinks, and binge eating and late-night snacks are the main ones. They increase the burden on the stomach and disrupt its movement. Just reducing the amount and avoiding irritating foods reduces bloating.

Q I work shifts and find it hard to make time. Realistically, how often do I need to visit?

A. You don't need to come every day. Treatment usually involves acupuncture once or twice a week along with herbal medicine taken daily, so even busy people can be treated while maintaining their daily life.

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

A. At the first visit, we listen in detail to your symptoms, eating habits, and lifestyle, and examine the condition of your stomach. Based on this, we decide together on a treatment plan, herbal prescription, and lifestyle management direction.

Q What should I prepare before the consultation?

A. Organizing when your bloating or epigastric pain is worst, which foods or situations aggravate them, the medications you're taking, and any test results will make the consultation faster and more accurate.

Q I had endoscopy twice at an internal medicine clinic in Dongincheon and both were normal. Can this stuffiness that doesn't show on tests improve with Korean medicine?

A. Many people have severe symptoms even with normal endoscopy. Functional dyspepsia is a functional problem where the stomach's movement and sensitivity are disturbed, not the structure, so it is an area where Korean medicine shows strength in regulating.

Q I've been taking digestive aids and stomach medicine for months, but it comes back when I stop. Can I live without medication?

A. Digestive aids and stomach medicine only temporarily suppress symptoms; the stomach's poor emptying and sensitive state remain, so it easily recurs when stopped. By restoring stomach motility and digestive rhythm, you can aim for a state without relying on medication.