Chronic Gastritis

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 black stools, we recommend an in-person examination first.

Q I was told I have bile reflux gastritis, probably because my gallbladder was removed, with bitter fluid rising up. I also have bloating. Can they improve together?

A. Bile reflux often occurs when stomach motility slows and duodenal contents flow backward into the stomach, causing bloating and epigastric discomfort together. When stomach motility is raised, reflux and indigestion symptoms often improve together.

Q Is there anything I can do at home right away when my stomach suddenly feels burning and bloated?

A. Sip lukewarm water slowly, and if you've overeaten, don't lie down immediately — keep your upper body upright. Avoid spicy food, coffee, and alcohol for a while, and try eating smaller portions more slowly.

Q What habits can help improve chronic gastritis?

A. Eat slowly and in small amounts, cut down on salty and burnt foods, quit smoking, and eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits. Regular meals and small habit changes can make as big a difference as medication.

Q My stomach is weak. Won't taking herbal medicine for a long time strain my stomach or liver?

A. A Korean medicine doctor prescribes based on your constitution and stomach condition, minimizing any burden. Properly prescribed herbal medicine is managed so as not to affect liver function and actually helps soothe a weakened stomach.

Q I thought it was just gastritis, but could it be something serious? What symptoms mean I should go to the hospital right away?

A. Unexplained weight loss, difficulty swallowing, vomiting blood, or black stools are warning signs that require immediate detailed examination. If you have these symptoms, you should get tested at a nearby hospital first, before Korean medicine treatment.

Q I'm taking acid-suppressing and stomach medications 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 frequently buy antacids from the pharmacy. If I start Korean medicine treatment, do I have to stop them?

A. You don't have to stop them right away. The antacids you've been using for sudden discomfort can be continued for a while, and as treatment reduces your symptoms, you'll naturally reach for them less.

Q I've had chronic gastritis for years. Can my stomach really become comfortable? How long does treatment usually take?

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

Q My endoscopy showed atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia. Is this dangerous? Can Korean medicine help?

A. Atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia are precancerous lesions that can raise stomach cancer risk, so regular endoscopic follow-up is most important. Korean medicine cannot replace this follow-up but plays a supportive role in easing stomach symptoms and reducing the burden on the lining.

Q My health checkup found chronic gastritis, but I hadn't felt any pain. Why does it happen?

A. Chronic gastritis is long-lasting inflammation of the gastric mucosa. The most common cause is Helicobacter pylori infection. Alcohol, smoking, coffee, and salty foods also continuously irritate the mucosa. In early stages there are often no symptoms, so it is commonly discovered incidentally during a checkup.

Q I love eating salty and spicy snacks with drinks at old Dong-incheon restaurants. Does this kind of food worsen chronic gastritis?

A. Salty food, burnt food, alcohol, and coffee continuously irritate the gastric mucosa and worsen chronic gastritis. Even if it is hard to cut them out completely, reducing the amount and eating them with less irritating foods lightens the burden on the mucosa.

Q I can't quit smoking or coffee — do I really have to give them up with chronic gastritis?

A. Smoking damages the stomach lining and raises the risk of stomach cancer, so quitting is strongly recommended. Coffee also increases stomach acid and can be irritating. Even cutting back — without quitting entirely — can reduce the burden on the mucosa.

Q I run a small shop in Dong-gu and find it hard to step away often. 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 near Dong-gu, Incheon. How does the first visit proceed?

A. At the first visit, we listen in detail to your symptoms, eating habits, lifestyle, and any endoscopy results you have, 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 symptoms worsen, which foods or situations aggravate them, the medications you're taking, and any endoscopy or biopsy results will make the consultation faster and more accurate.

Q I've been taking stomach medication for over a year, but when I stop I quickly get bloated and have burning pain again. Can I live without medication?

A. Acid-suppressing medications only temporarily mask symptoms while the weakened gastric environment remains unchanged, making relapse likely when you stop. If the weakened gastric function is restored, it is possible to aim for a state that relies less on medication.

Q I got H. pylori eradication treatment but I still feel bloated and uncomfortable. I eliminated the bacteria—why does this happen?

A. Even after successful eradication, the weakened gastric mucosa and digestive function do not recover immediately, so discomfort can linger. This kind of functional discomfort that does not show up well on tests is an area where Korean medicine treatment, which focuses on improving gastric motility and recovery, excels.