☯ What is Functional Gastrointestinal Disturbance?
Even though remarkable specific disorder is not detected in stomach through the stomach examination, patients may feel continuous displeasure or pain in the stomach or abdomen. In this case, gastroenteric trouble is suspected.
☯ Types
Functional gastrointestinal disturbance is divided into two parts which are Functional upper GI disorder (Non-Ulcer Dyspepsia) and Functional lower GI disorder (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).
☯ Symptom
1. Functional upper GI disorder (Non-Ulcer Dyspepsia)
Indigestion is the general term for digestive problems symptoms after food intake. It could be accompanied by several digestive symptoms such as heartburn, burp, nausea, displeasure of upper belly, sense of distention in stomach, flatulence, and stomachache.
2. Functional lower GI disorder (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
The most significant symptom of the irritable bowel syndrome is the dyschezia classified under three heads; diarrhea type, constipation type and mixture of diarrhea and constipation. Moreover, patients may suffer from mucus stool, stomachache, sensation of abdominal inflation, sensation of abdominal inflation, headache, menstrual irregularity, anxiety, nervousness, depression and so on.
☯ Cause
The causes of the functional gastrointestinal diseases are various.
- Overeat
- Smoking
- Strong-tasting foods
- Gastric hypersecretion
- Spoiled food intake
- Several kinds of medicine
- Irregular lifestyle
- Everyday life stress
- Unknown of origin
☯ Prevention
1. Avoid an excessive stress.
2. Do not smoke and drink alcohol.
3. Develop a good eating habit.
- Eat regularly and do not skip the meal
- Avoid strong-tasting foods (black pepper, chili pepper, coffee, black tea)
- Avoid rough foods, hard foods and fatty foods
- Do not eat before 3 hours of bedtime
- Do not overeat
- Avoid heavy foods
- Try to eat more balanced meals
☯Korean medical treatment
Korean medical treatment for functional gastrointestinal disturbance is effective.
1. Herbal medicine therapy
Gastrointestinal tract is vulnerable in a humid condition, so if gastrointestinal tract is humid for a long period, sputum which is an abnormal substance occurs. Sputum disrupts the gastrointestinal function and causes the symptoms. In this case, we put efforts to get rid of humidity and sputum. If a patient has a low energy, we prescribe medicine for increasing energy. We try to set a patient with a neurological symptom at ease and increase the liver function. If a patient suffers from an acidosis, medicine for deacidification is prescribed.
2. Acupuncture & Moxibustion & Cupping therapy
We stimulate spots on the body suitable for acupuncture related to digestive organs by applying acupuncture and moxibustion. It helps to improve energy and blood flow, and functions of gastrointestinal tract. Also, through cupping therapy, patients get rid of an excessive stress and fatigue and improve metabolic activity.
3. Miso pack therapy (soybean paste pack therapy)
Miso pack therapy helps to remove excess heat, improve bowel movement, breathe and urinate. Therefore, it is effective for chronic constipation, seroperitoneum, abdominal distention, digestive organs, evacuation disorders and detox of inner intestine.