Q I took prescribed antibiotics and improved temporarily, but worsened again after a few months. Can Korean medicine help fundamentally?
A Antibiotics temporarily suppress overgrown bacteria, but if the underlying cause (decreased small intestinal motility, etc.) remains, relapse is frequent. Korean medicine excels at restoring small intestinal motility to create an intestinal environment resistant to relapse.
Detailed Answer
Antibiotics like rifaximin can quickly reduce SIBO symptoms, but if the root cause (decreased motility, insufficient gastric acid, etc.) remains unchanged, relapse within a few months after treatment is common. Repeated relapses can worsen resistance risk and intestinal environment disruption.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Korean medicine treatment focuses on restoring small intestinal motility so food moves smoothly, resolving intestinal damp-heat accumulation, and creating an environment where bacteria cannot re-overgrow. Korean medicine combination is particularly helpful in the root-cause management stage after antibiotic treatment.
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