“Understanding and Treating Reflux Esophagitis: A Comprehensive Guide to Effective Recovery with Korean Medicine”

2023-05-05 02:00:00

Haidak medical reporter Kim Do-hwanㅣSource: Haidak

‘I’m afraid to eat because my chest and epigastric region are uncomfortable when I just eat’
‘I mightn’t sleep because I was sick all night’
‘It’s embarrassing that the new trim keeps coming up’
‘If you take the PPI (gastric acid secretion inhibitor) given by the internal medicine, it seems to be a little better, but then it goes back’
‘I have a foreign body feeling in my throat and I have a hoarse voice’

Many of the people reading this article will recognize it because they have been diagnosed with reflux esophagitis or seem to have symptoms of reflux esophagitis. With the above symptoms of reflux esophagitis, the hospital prescribed gastric acid suppressants and is taking them, but it does not improve well, so there are many people who are worried regarding whether there is another cause or whether it is developing into a major disease. You may be wondering if there is any good information following reading my article while searching here and there. From now on, I will tell you step by step regarding why reflux esophagitis does not heal well and recurs and how to get better, so please read it carefully until the end.

What is reflux esophagitis and why does it occur?
If you listen to the stories of people around you, there is a saying that ‘reflux esophagitis does not get better’, and in fact, if you go to a place like a reflux esophagitis cafe, you will not get better even following taking medicine for several years.

As such, reflux esophagitis is a painful disease that not only interferes with daily life but also impoverishes the mind. By the way, reflux esophagitis patients have increased close to 2 times between 10 years to 2021 million people. In 2023, this year, it is expected to easily exceed 5 million people. This means that 1 out of 10 people suffer from reflux esophagitis.

The direct cause of reflux esophagitis is relaxation of the esophageal sphincter. When we eat, food travels down the esophagus and into the stomach. The stomach secretes stomach acid and digestive juices to digest the ingested food, and kneads the food into porridge. At this time, the esophagus and the stomach are tightly squeezed to prevent stomach acid and food from flowing back. The muscle that tightens in this way is called the sphincter (similar to the anal sphincter), and at the end of the esophagus, it is called the (lower) esophageal sphincter.

However, if the esophageal sphincter does not tighten tightly for some reason, stomach acid or gastric juice, which should be in the stomach, goes back to the esophagus. The problem is that the esophageal mucosa does not have a protective film like the gastric mucosa, so when exposed to stomach acid or gastric juice, it burns and becomes inflamed. That’s why you experience burning, tight, sore, sore, and stuffy symptoms in your chest.

Why does reflux esophagitis not get better when treated with gastric acid inhibitors?
The reason is that, as mentioned above, gastric acid secretion is not the cause of reflux esophagitis. Gastric acid inhibitors (PPIs) suppress the normal secretion of stomach acid. Thus, acute symptoms of stomach acid reflux can be alleviated. However, if the esophageal sphincter does not recover to its normal state in the meantime, esophagitis will inevitably recur. So, if you continue to take PPI to alleviate the symptoms, and the decrease in stomach acid due to PPI continues, the normal digestive function of the stomach weakens, resulting in more serious problems such as indigestion and chronic gastritis.

Reflux esophagitis is not the cause of gastric acidity, but the real cause of ‘a loose esophageal sphincter not recovering’. If the esophageal sphincter is normal, it tightens the esophageal sphincter when the stomach digests food, preventing stomach acid from passing into the esophagus. This condition is healthy and cured.

How to restore the esophageal sphincter?
In order for the esophageal sphincter to recover, two things must be seen. One is the vagus nerve, which controls the esophageal sphincter, and the other is the blood supply necessary for the recovery of the esophageal sphincter.

The vagus nerve is one of the autonomic nerves that connects the brain to the esophageal sphincter. It is responsible for relaying commands from the brain to the esophageal sphincter. However, when the vagus nerve is weakened, the esophageal sphincter cannot be controlled normally.

Also, for the esophageal sphincter to work, it needs clean, nutrient-rich blood to flow to the muscle. Poor blood circulation or a lot of waste in the body hinders the recovery of the esophageal sphincter.

If the symptoms of reflux esophagitis persist, be careful as it can progress to dangerous diseases such as Barrett’s esophagus｜Source: Getty Image Bank

Why You Should Not Ignore Reflux Esophagitis
There are uncomfortable symptoms, but since taking hospital medicine does not get better, patients feel tired and frustrated whenever reflux esophagitis recurs. If this situation is repeated, there are many cases where reflux esophagitis treatment is abandoned and left unattended to become chronic.

If the symptoms of reflux esophagitis persist, not only can it progress to dangerous diseases such as Barrett’s esophagus, but the quality of life also significantly deteriorates. Recurring symptoms can lead to mental problems such as hypochondria, depression, and anxiety, so treatment is essential.

Advantages of Korean medicine treatment for reflux esophagitis
Reflux esophagitis treatment has the correct answer to the recovery of the vagus nerve and esophageal sphincter. Herbal treatment focuses on solving the fundamental problem of reflux esophagitis by allowing the vagus nerve to control the esophageal sphincter normally and strengthening the esophageal sphincter so that gastric acid does not flow back.

When treating reflux esophagitis, it is important to receive treatment from an oriental clinic with rich treatment experience and professional knowledge because the composition and ratio of prescription drugs as well as acupuncture vary greatly depending on the patient’s constitution, symptoms, and current physical condition. This is because each oriental clinic specializes in different areas of treatment and has different areas of expertise.

In addition, scientific tests such as oriental medical examinations such as pulse, stomach and tongue examinations, infrared thermography to detect the temperature of the stomach and esophagus, autonomic nerve examination to identify abnormalities in the vagus nerve, and vascular health examination to check the blood circulation throughout the body are provided. Together, you can know the exact cause of reflux esophagitis and the treatment period can be shortened. In addition, if you go to a place where the director directly manages your eating habits professionally and systematically, you will be able to escape from the dreaded reflux esophagitis and enjoy a happy daily life like others.

Article = Director Kim Do-hwan, medical reporter at Haidak (oriental medicine doctor)

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