Question 1

My tonsillitis recurs often — should I have surgery?

Accepted Answer

If not 4–5+ severe episodes per year, immunity-strengthening treatment is recommended before surgery. Herbs raising lung/spleen-stomach immunity greatly reduce tonsillitis frequency.

Question 2

What is Maehaekgi (globus sensation)?

Accepted Answer

A sensation of something stuck in the throat without anything actually being there. Western medicine calls it pharyngeal foreign-body sensation or globus. Stress and qi stagnation are main causes; Korean medicine works very well.

Question 3

How long does Maehaekgi treatment take?

Accepted Answer

Mild: 2–4 weeks; chronic: 1–3 months recommended. Specialty prescriptions like Banha-hubaek-tang yield rapid improvement.

Question 4

Is Maehaekgi related to stress?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the most common cause of Maehaekgi is qi stagnation (氣鬱) from stress. Tension, anxiety, and suppressed emotions cause qi to stagnate in the throat producing the foreign-body sensation. Restoring qi flow resolves it.

Question 5

Endoscopy showed nothing — why do I still feel something stuck?

Accepted Answer

Maehaekgi is a functional, not structural, problem, so endoscopy can't detect it. Pharyngeal muscle tension and sensory hypersensitivity are causes; herbs and acupuncture release tension and normalize sensation.

Question 6

Are GERD and Maehaekgi different?

Accepted Answer

Symptoms are similar but they're different conditions. GERD's main symptom is burning from acid reflux; Maehaekgi only has foreign-body sensation without pain or burning. They can co-occur, so accurate differentiation is important.

Question 7

Are there good lifestyle habits for Maehaekgi?

Accepted Answer

Stress management is most important. Deep breathing, neck stretching, frequent warm water, reducing caffeine help. Forcefully swallowing or repeated throat-clearing can worsen it.

Globus Sensation (Maehaekgi)

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