Q. I've been using medications like Saxenda or Wegovy, and I'm feeling very nauseous. Can I get help at a TKM clinic?
Yes, you can. We can help alleviate nausea and indigestion by regulating and improving the gastrointestinal motility that has been slowed down by the medication.
📝 Detailed Answer
Many people are currently using GLP-1 receptor agonists. Since these medications work by delaying gastric emptying, some patients experience severe symptoms such as nausea or dizziness. Through clinical experience, I have found that the distress patients feel is often too significant to be dismissed simply as an 'adjustment period.'
In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this condition is often viewed as Dam-jeok (痰積), or phlegm-accumulation, where waste products build up, leading to decreased gastrointestinal motility and impaired circulation of Qi. Patients with a Pi-heo (脾虛) type—meaning they have an inherently weak spleen and digestive system—are likely to experience these side effects more intensely.
💡 Direction of TKM Treatment
The goal is to restore the suppressed gastric motility and facilitate the discharge of accumulated gas and toxins to bring the stomach back to a comfortable state.
- Stimulating acupuncture points on the Pericardium Meridian (PC) and Stomach Meridian (ST) to promote gastric motility.
- Prescribing I-gi-je (理氣劑), or Qi-regulating herbal formulas, to relieve nausea and resolve stagnation.
- Customized herbal medicine to reduce inflammation of the digestive mucosa and reinforce overall vitality.
Please note that the decision to continue or discontinue your medication should be discussed with your prescribing physician; TKM focuses on reducing the physical discomfort arising during that process.
Expert Verified
Dr. Yeonseung Choe
Chief Director
