Abstract
Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) is a disease that occurs when stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the tube connecting the mouth and esophagus. Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM) has been widely used since the ancient times to treat GERD. However, as the treatment method has not been standardized and inconsistent in clinical practice, it may be necessary to review the classical and modern literatures to understand how the TKM treatment of GERD has been changed. Seven databases were searched and selected 54 published books. The classical books from The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine to the end of the Joseon Dynasty, and the modern books published as first editions from 1989 to 2022 were reviewed. This study compared the differences and similarities of understanding GERD in the classical and modern literatures according to the main symptom and aetiology, and the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment points used with frequencies. In classical literature, the view of GERD was symptom-oriented such as fever, nausea, vomiting, phlegm-fire, gastric upset, acid regugitation, whereas the modern literature mainly classified the disease as organ-oriented combined with the condition of illness, particularly including in-coordination of the liver and stomach Qi. The most frequently used treatment points cross the literatures were CV 12, and modern literature included SP 4 and PC 6. Both of the classic and modern literature viewed that GERD is due to inappropiate eating habit or food, and modern literature additionally concerned more complex causes likely stress, which had leaded to various treatment points. Further study on the treatment points by diagnosis identification is may be necessary.