By Sunghun Lee
At one time or another, we have all experienced indigestion to varying degrees.
Generally, it is from an excessively indulgent lunch or dinner as many readers would have experienced themselves as I have.
However, there are those of us who are prone to frequent indigestion which does not necessarily have anything to do with what or how much they have eaten.
They are just as likely to feel the same even with at the slightest bit of mental exertion.
Detailed symptoms can vary from person to person and may include one or more of the following.
The upper stomach just below the solar plexus feels bloated as if foods from the previous meal or snack remain in position.
Some also burp but still feel bloated.
Others can also feel nauseous and even vomit.
Occasionally, patients experience diarrhea. In some cases, patients experience cold hands and feet, feel chilly with pain in their extremities which can often be mistaken as cold.
Some, especially females others who regularly experience headaches, may complain of headache associated with indigestion
The Korean language has several different descriptions for acute dyspepsia, probably reflecting the frequency that we Koreans experience indigestion and how we deal with it.
Non-Koreans may have been surprised when witnessing how one of the most popular folk remedies that Koreans employ to treat acute dyspepsia.
It is the practice of pricking the tips of fingers to draw blood and those treated in such manner often say that their chest that has felt stuck suddenly clears as if a clogged pipe is drained properly.
One of the old Korean adages that we Koreans grow up with is “a mother’s hand is a medicinal hand.”
This expression is derived from how the mothers of young children caress and pet the children’s stomachs to make them feel better, which generally works.
When suffering from indigestion, if you put your hands on your stomach, it can often feel quite cold to the touch.
This coldness is a sign of the stomach’s lowered functionality.
Using the warmth of the hands can help the stomach recover and operate at its normal functional level.
Instead of hands, you can also use hot packs of hot water bags to achieve the same result.
There are a number of indigestion relief medicines available as over-the-counter medications, but if they or other remedies do not relieve your symptoms properly, it is time to visit your local traditional Korean clinic.
Korean medicine has a number of treatment options including the aforementioned fingertip-pricking as well as acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion and Hanyak medicines.
There are a number of acupuncture points across our bodies in our hands, feet, legs, stomach and back that improve digestive functions.
Once such acupuncture points are properly stimulated, most patients show immediate relief.
The cupping treatment method works on the acupuncture points on the hands and the back in much the same manner as fingertip-pricking to draw blood.
If the indigestion is unresponsive to the normal course of treatment or it is repeated, moxibustion can be used. Moxibustion uses heat-stimulation to boost the yang-qi in the stomach to normalize its functions.
Against acute dyspepsia, Hanyak medicine can be used to clear blocked qi and promote its better circulation.
In case of chronic indigestion, Hanyak medicine can be used to supplement the stomach’s energy to normalize its functions.
As acute dyspepsia can bring on cold-like symptoms or headaches, some mistakenly treat themselves for common cold or simply take painkillers.
However, if you treat the underlying indigestion, other associated symptoms are naturally alleviated.
If you suffer indigestion along with various other symptoms, a visit to your local traditional Korean medicine clinic is highly recommended.