Treatment and follow-up
Dyspepsia treatment begins by first ruling out risks of bleeding, cardiac issues, or biliary tract problems, and treating explainable causes such as H. pylori, ulcers, or causative medications. Treatment then proceeds based on the primary symptoms of functional dyspepsia. Acid suppressants, gastrointestinal motility agents, anti-nausea medications, and gut-brain axis therapies are adjusted based on response and side effects. Korean herbal medicine treatment does not replace or delay diagnostic tests, eradication therapy, or pharmacological treatment.
Treat H. pylori and underlying diseases
If an infection is confirmed, receive combination antibacterial therapy; if another disease is the cause, prioritize the treatment for that condition.
Coordinate causative medications with the prescriber
Even if the onset of symptoms coincides with a change in medication, do not stop necessary medications on your own; instead, discuss the purpose of the prescription and possible alternatives.
Manage functional symptoms step-by-step
Evaluate responses sequentially to PPIs, H2 blockers, and situation-specific gastrointestinal motility, anti-nausea, or low-dose gut-brain neuromodulation therapies.
Integrate lifestyle, nutrition, and gut-brain therapy for non-responsive cases
Rather than repeatedly trying medications alone, consider a combination of dietary and activity adjustments, nutritional support, and mental health treatments such as counseling and relaxation.
Do not wait for digestive medicine if bleeding or chest pain occurs
Vomiting blood, black stools, feeling of fainting, or new chest pain and shortness of breath require immediate emergency or specialized medical evaluation rather than outpatient medication adjustment.
Do not arbitrarily change H. pylori treatment
Follow the medical staff's guidance for combination prescriptions; do not use Korean herbal medicine or supplements to replace eradication therapy or shorten the treatment period.
Do not stop or increase long-term medications on your own
Regularly check underlying conditions, concomitant medications, responses, and side effects, then adjust dosage and usage with your medical provider.
Do not overlap supplements and alternative therapies
Do not arbitrarily add vitamins, herbs, supplements, or Korean herbal medicine before confirming safety and potential interactions.
How Baekrokdam approaches care
Baekrokdam prioritizes emergency or gastroenterological evaluation over herbal medicine consultations for acute hematemesis (vomiting blood), black stools, fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath, persistent vomiting, jaundice, or weight loss. For chronic or recurrent indigestion, we maintain H. pylori eradication, adjustment of causative medications, and standard functional treatments. Only when early satiety, postprandial fullness, or epigastric discomfort persist after these steps do we consult on the limited supportive goals of herbal medicine treatment.
- H. pylori, gastroscopy, and diagnosis of the cause
- All prescribed medications, over-the-counter drugs, supplements, and herbal medicine
- Meal portion size, postprandial recovery time, and epigastric discomfort
- Weight, vomiting, black stools, jaundice, and chest pain
- Ability to go to work, eat out, and sleep
We first verify the cause-based treatment and current medications
We verify whether the goals and responses to eradication, causative medication adjustment, and functional medications have been clarified to prevent arbitrary changes.
We evaluate recurring mealtime experiences using consistent criteria
We record whether the portion size of a single lunch, the time it takes for postprandial discomfort to resolve, and interference with meetings, eating out, or sleep change before and after treatment.
We define the scope of supportive care and criteria for reassessment
If bleeding, vomiting, weight loss, or lack of response occurs during herbal medicine treatment, we do not repeat supportive care but instead reassess the diagnosis.
Hematemesis, coffee-ground vomiting, black stools, fainting, new oppressive chest pain with shortness of breath and cold sweats, persistent vomiting, difficulty swallowing, jaundice, weight loss, or sudden severe abdominal pain require immediate evaluation. Herbal medicine treatment does not replace or delay H. pylori eradication, necessary tests, or standard treatments such as acid suppressants, gastrointestinal motility agents, or gut-brain axis therapies.
