Hello. This is Dalimchae Oriental Clinic.

Feeling a Burning Sensation in Your Chest? Acid Reflux, Resolve It from the Root!

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night because your chest felt like it was on fire after eating a late-night snack? Or is your daily life difficult because of the burning sensation from the pit of your stomach to your neck and the rising of sour water from time to time? Many people complain of a 'burning sensation in the chest' and suspect acid reflux, but often suffer from chronic pain after dismissing it as simple heartburn. Even if you take antacids, it's only temporary; if you want to escape the cycle of recurring acid reflux, it's time to look at the fundamental cause beyond the symptoms.

💡 [Key Answer] The 3 most common causes of heartburn: ① Decreased gastrointestinal motility and imbalance in acid secretion / ② Gut-Brain Axis disturbance / ③ Poor eating habits and lifestyle Dalimchae Oriental Clinic improves the gastrointestinal environment through gut detox and regains autonomic nervous system balance to fundamentally solve acid reflux problems.

Many people think of acid reflux as a simple problem of excessive stomach acid, but in fact, there are complex causes that are difficult to explain with stomach acid alone. The reason why it feels okay for a while after taking antacids but then recurs is that the fundamental cause has not been resolved. Our body's digestive system is sophisticatedly connected, and acid reflux may not be just a problem of the stomach. Autonomic nervous system disturbance due to stress, gut environment imbalance, and decreased motility of the stomach itself work together to cause and worsen symptoms. In particular, the functional decline of the lower esophageal sphincter, which connects the esophagus and the stomach, is cited as a major cause. If this sphincter does not function properly, stomach contents will reflux into the esophagus. Unless this overall imbalance is resolved, acid reflux has no choice but to continue the cycle of recurrence.

In oriental medicine, acid reflux has been recognized by subdividing it into various symptoms such as 'Tansan', 'Tosan', 'Jojap', and 'Maehaekgi'. These symptoms go beyond simply having a lot of stomach acid and are seen as occurring because the balance of the entire body is broken, and in particular, the circulation of 'Qi' in the digestive system is not smooth. Due to stress, overwork, and irregular eating habits, gastrointestinal function weakens, and when unnecessary waste products called 'Dam' accumulate in the stomach, gastrointestinal motility decreases, stomach acid secretion becomes imbalanced, and eventually stomach acid refluxes into the esophagus. In other words, oriental medicine views acid reflux not as a problem of stomach acid, but as a total digestive system problem caused by the decline of overall gastrointestinal function and autonomic nervous system disturbance, and suggests fundamental solutions.

Oriental medicine treatment for acid reflux shows positive results for many patients with a fundamental approach through the recovery of gastrointestinal function. According to a domestic clinical study published in 2024, as a result of applying herbal medicine treatment to 35 patients suffering from acid reflux symptoms at 16 oriental clinic networks, significant improvements were confirmed in all symptom scores (NRS, FSSG, GerdQ) compared to baseline after 30 and 60 days. In particular, the decrease in the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score indicated a distinct reduction in the severity of acid reflux symptoms. Researchers concluded that these results suggest that herbal medicine treatment in primary oriental clinics can help alleviate acid reflux symptoms effectively and safely.

Another study confirmed the effect and safety of herbal medicine treatment for patients with chronic cough due to gastroesophageal reflux. In a clinical trial conducted at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital in 2022, Ojeok-san and Saengmaek-san complex herbal medicine showed significant improvement compared to placebo in several indicators such as Chronic Cough Diary (CDS) score, Cough Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Quality of Life questionnaire (LCQ-K), and Gastroesophageal Reflux-related Gastrointestinal Symptom Scale (GSRS). This suggests that oriental medicine treatment is effective not only for heartburn, a typical symptom of acid reflux, but also for improving related atypical symptoms (e.g., chronic cough, globus sensation). Based on these data, Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch is focusing on fundamentally resolving the pain experienced by patients by correcting the systemic imbalance related to the stomach, rather than simply suppressing symptoms.

At Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch, we approach the fundamental cause of chronic acid reflux through gut detox. Our body's digestive process is like one long pipe from the mouth to the anus. In this process, if toxins accumulate in the intestinal wall due to food debris, stress, and poor eating habits, it does not end with just a bowel problem. Toxins accumulated in the intestinal wall travel through the blood and cause systemic inflammation, which lowers gastrointestinal motility and even weakens the function of the lower esophageal sphincter, encouraging acid reflux. In addition, the gut and the brain are closely connected by the 'Gut-Brain Axis', so worsening gut health can lead to stress and autonomic imbalance, adversely affecting stomach acid secretion and gastrointestinal movement.

Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch's gut detox treatment focuses on breaking this cycle. We prescribe customized herbal medicine that discharges toxins and strengthens intestinal wall function according to individual constitution and symptoms, and help stomach acid be properly digested by promoting gastrointestinal peristalsis. We also improve the systemic immune system and digestive power by reducing inflammatory responses and creating a beneficial bacterial environment in the gut. As a Songdo acid reflux oriental clinic, Dalimchae Oriental Clinic believes that it is most important to optimize gastrointestinal function to regain the self-healing power of the lower esophageal sphincter and help the body find balance on its own.

If 3 or more of the items below apply, there is a high possibility that acid reflux is becoming chronic. Consider professional diagnosis and treatment from Dalimchae Oriental Clinic, a Songdo oriental clinic.

• You feel burning pain or heartburn after a meal or when lying down.
• Sour water often rises or a sour taste is felt.
• There is often a foreign body sensation or stuffiness in the throat as if something is stuck.
• Digestion is not good, you feel bloated, and belching is frequent.
• There are symptoms such as chronic cough, hoarseness, and sore throat.
• You lose sleep or wake up at night because of heartburn.
• Gastrointestinal symptoms worsen when stressed.
• Symptoms only improve when taking Western medicine, and recur when the medicine is stopped.

Judgment Criteria:

• 3 or more items apply: High possibility of chronic acid reflux. Review the gut detox treatment of Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch.
• 5 or more items apply: Serious imbalance of gastrointestinal function is suspected. Immediate professional diagnosis and customized treatment through a visit are recommended.

Q. How long should acid reflux be treated? A. The treatment period for acid reflux varies depending on the severity of the individual's symptoms, degree of chronicity, and lifestyle improvement efforts. Steady treatment and management are necessary for symptom relief and recovery of gastrointestinal function to prevent recurrence, and Dalimchae Oriental Clinic aims for meaningful improvement through intensive treatment for about 2-3 months on average.

Q. Can other symptoms besides heartburn be treated with oriental medicine? A. Yes, various atypical symptoms caused by acid reflux, such as globus sensation, chronic cough, hoarseness, indigestion, and heartburn, can be improved together through oriental medicine treatment. Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch treats related symptoms simultaneously by strengthening overall gastrointestinal function.

Q. Can acid reflux heal naturally? A. Temporary acid reflux can improve with lifestyle changes alone, but chronic acid reflux is difficult to improve naturally. Rather, if left untreated, there is a risk that esophageal inflammation will worsen or progress to Barrett's esophagus, so active treatment is necessary.

Q. I have both acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome, can they be treated together? A. Yes, both acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome are closely related to gut-brain axis and autonomic nervous system imbalance, so they can be improved together through Dalimchae Oriental Clinic's gut detox treatment. It is important to manage stomach and gut health integrally to regain the balance of the entire body. As a Songdo gut detox oriental clinic, we deeply understand and treat the connection between the two diseases.

Acid reflux is not a problem that can be solved by enduring it. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach it in the right direction, your body will react faster than you think. Bring the symptoms you are experiencing exactly as they are. Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch will find the cause together.

Where life blooms. For herbal medicine, it's Dalimchae Oriental Clinic. Check your symptoms first with the AI consultation on the Dalimchae Oriental Clinic website!

This article is health information compiled by the Dalimchae medical staff based on questions frequently received in the treatment room. Medical Supervision | Gastrointestinal Treatment Standard, Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch, Oriental Doctor Oh Hyeon-min (Acid Reflux Column) #AcidReflux #Heartburn #StomachAcidReflux #GlobusSensation #GutDetox #SongdoAcidRefluxOrientalClinic #OrientalMedicineTreatment