A Case Report on Reflux Esophagitis Treated with Korean Medicine in a Patient with Spinal Stenosis

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the efficacy of Korean medical treatment for reflux esophagitis.Methods: We used Korean medical treatment (herbal medicines, acupuncture, herbal acupuncture, and therapy) to treat a hospitalized patient with reflux esophagitis. To evaluate the treatment, we measured the symptoms using the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for heartburn, acid reflux, chest pain, foreign body sensations in the throat, chronic cough, hoarseness, and bronchial asthma. The generic health status was evaluated using the European Quality of Life Five-Dimension (EQ-5d) Scale.Results: The RSI and EQ-5d scores improved following treatment, but the VAS scores showed that only heartburn, acid reflux, and chest pain symptoms were relieved.Conclusions: This study suggests that Korean medicine may be effective for treating reflux esophagitis.