Ryu Acupuncture Clinic, Inc. 

ACID REFLUX AND GERD

"I have been going to Dr. Ryu for about eight months for chronic acid reflux. I had been on prescription drugs for years with some ok results, but eight months ago they stopped working. I was a skeptic at first, but with the combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine, the results have been excellent. Dr. Ryu is a great guy, and more importantly has earned my trust. I would recommend Ryu Acupuncture Clinic to anyone." - Lou M.

ALLERGIES

"About three months ago I had my first appointment with Dr. Ryu.  I went to see him to talk about my allergies.  I believe that I have suffered from allergies since my early 20s.  After years of taking medicine for allergies I felt I had to try something different.  I learned that over the counter medicine or prescribed medicine is only a temporary fix.  Once the medicine wore off I was back with the same symptoms I had started with such as coughing, sneezing, itching in the ears, stuffy ears, and worst of all I was exhausted from coughing all day long.  I have never been able to breathe well because my nose has always been stuffy and I had to constantly blow my nose every morning and everyday during the day.  I have always felt like I had cotton in my ears.  When there was a change in the weather I was in total misery.  I couldn’t sleep with my head flat on my pillow because I would choke from post nasal drip and cough and sneeze all night long.  I tried nasal sprays, I bought a steamer to open my sinuses, I drank hot teas, and I also used a sinus rinse to flush out the sinuses.  These procedures gave me very minimal relief.  The medicines I notice would only give me relief for a few hours and then wore off by mid-day and then I had to start again for the rest of the day and again at night time.
Dr. Ryu has been very honest about explaining my allergies to me and then he immediately put me on his herbal medicine regimen.  I know it might have been a bit too soon but I started to feel results just after a month after I started to take his medicine.  I took his medicine twice a day for 30 days and now I am on my third month which is giving me better results as the days and months go by.  I am not coughing as much as I used to, the post nasal drip is thinning and so I can blow it out much easier, I no longer have the “cotton in my ears” feeling.  I can breathe in deeply and not feel congestion.  Dr. Ryu has explained to me that his medicine was going to help boost my immune system because previously my immune system was very low and my body was not able to help me deal with the allergens in the environment.
As a human being Dr. Ryu has been phenomenal.  When he asks you questions and you answer back to him he listens to you carefully.  During this dialog he is learning about you and your illness.  I appreciate the way he explains everything to you so that you have a full understanding of what is happening to you.  I have developed faith in him and his    medicine." - Amparo C.

ANXIETY

"My husband has had anxiety attacks for years now due to a traumatic incident in his past. His attacks occur at any point and time - on the freeway, movie theater etc. It’s very scary to witness I can't imagine what he goes through. In any case he was resigned to taking some very strong meds to numb the feeling as soon as he feels he is going to experience an anxiety attack. So deciding to remove as much drugs from his system, I found Dr. Ryu (pronounced Dr. U ) and the rest shall we say is history.
Dr. Ryu has a very blunt sense of humor and is a straight shooter which both of us like. He made sure I understood what my husband was going through and how real the attack is for him. Witnessing an anxiety attack is a completely different experience from going through one. It was hard for me to understand why we needed to go to urgent care or the ER when he had a bad one. He is only 30 so even though he thinks he is having a heart attack, realistically you know he is not - no heart disease , young and in shape etc.
He has seen Dr. Ryu for three months now and hasn't had an anxiety attack since the acupuncture treatments started. Also Dr. Ryu has been treating him for snoring issues and that has calmed down as well to the point of where I don't have to move to the couch in the middle of the night!
I highly recommend Dr. Ryu as a holistic approach for whatever you may be experiencing. He is extremely knowledgeable and a funny guy :)
You'll love Renie as other Yelpers have mentioned she is very sweet and very good with handling paperwork if you are using insurance..." - Sofia C.

ASTHMA

"I began bringing my ten year old son Bryan to Dr. Ryu back in October of ’08 because he had been suffering from asthma for eight years and had to take five medications every day for six years. I was tired of not seeing any long term positive results and felt frustrated and hopeless. After a long, long search, I got a recommendation from a friend who is a nurse and had tried acupuncture treatments with his two kids, especially because of concerns about side effects from the medicines. I was determined to give my son a second chance of enjoying a normal life without frequent trips to the emergency room and practically living at the pediatrician’s office. Until Dr. Ryu began treating him, Bryan couldn’t go outside in the cold at all because it would trigger an immediate and severe asthma attack. After just three weeks of acupuncture and herbal medication with Dr. Ryu, I saw Bryan's improvement. It was incredible! Now after three months of treatment, my son is free of asthma and free of medicines. Dr. Ryu was able to do in three months what eight years of Western medicine could not. In addition to curing Bryan’s asthma, Dr. Ryu also repaired some brain damage resulting from the lack of air and blood circulation to his brain. Dr. Ryu is an amazing doctor and a great human being. This treatment has truly changed our lives, especially my son's. This year was my son's first winter not visiting doctors every two weeks and emergency rooms as well. He went to the snow for the very first time. It was totally worth it to go to Dr. Ryu. He is the BEST!!!" - Nancy T.

AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

"I am seeing Dr. Ryu for Raynaud's- an autoimmune condition where the hands and feet get super cold and sometimes turn blue.  I also have some nerve issues in those areas. I opted for both the acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. As Dr. Ryu said, my condition is complex and will involve more time than most people. I knew this, especially since I've had this imbalance so long. After a few treatments, I have felt blood and energy coursing through my hands for the first time; I feel things are beginning to come alive. My nerve issues are much better already. As for Dr. Ryu, I find him to be a truly nice human being. He has a good personality and listens more than he talks unlike a lot of doctors. I am comfortable with him and feel secure under his care. I will update this review as time goes on. Anyone with the same condition will likely be interested in the outcome." - Tamara H.

BACK PAIN

"Dr. Ryu is a true healer. I had a herniated disc in my neck and was in excruciating pain for about two months.  After many visits to the Ortho and getting an epidural that did not work, I was recommended to Dr. Ryu.  The pain diminished greatly after one visit.  Five visits later and I am back to myself again.  So grateful I found this man." - Brett D.

CHOLESTEROL ISSUES

"Dr. Jay is an amazing man and doctor.  My wife and I have visited him over the past several years for all sorts of ailments - ranging from back/neck pain to cholesterol issues.  Using his herbal medication and acupuncture - as well as dietary changes - I lowered my cholesterol from 252 to 120!  Seriously. he also helped a friend of mine get off insulin after he was diagnosed with diabetes.  I recommend him on every level." - Ted M.

DEPRESSION

"I began weekly acupuncture treatments with Dr. Jay Ryu, L.Ac., Ph.D. spring 2004.
The psychiatrist I see for depression and bipolar disorder recommended I
resume acupuncture treatments to improve physical health. I felt very stressed
and depressed. My left shoulder ached nearly every afternoon. I needed near
12 hours of sleep nightly. I got up several times per night to urinate, disturbing
deep restorative sleep. Thigh areas were constantly sore and hurt when doing
normal daily stretching exercises; walking three miles a day is part of my
exercise routine; it had become painful.I felt stiff and sore walking, and
especially after sitting for short times. My body was recovering extremely poorly
after normal exercise. At 51 years old, I refused to attribute health problems
and aches to normal aging.
Slowly -- through Dr. Ryu's weekly acupuncture treatments -- the aching
shoulder diminished; soreness in thighs diminished greatly. My body recovers
well after normal exercise again. I am better able to handle work stress; no
longer feeling overwhelmed or overloaded. More calm, especially after an
acupuncture treatment. As of November 2004, I am much improved --
physically, mentally and emotionally. Pharmaceutical drugs for depression and
bipolar disorder have been cut 50% and 75%. Left shoulder rarely aches, then
only briefly and mildly when I am very tired. Thighs no longer stay stiff and sore.
My body recovers from exercise much quicker. I don't get up during the night to
urinate. Quality of sleep is much improved. Digestion is much better. At 52
years old, I have a greatly improved sense of well being. My experience with Dr.
Ryu is positive, productive and encouraging." - Sudi O.

DIGESTION

"Wonderful and stunningly effective!  I am so happy and grateful to have met Dr. Jay Ryu L. Ac., Ph. D., and to have been treated by him.   We first met years ago, and this year after some time away, I came to him with a seemingly intractable medical problem.  In a very short course of treatment, Dr. Ryu eliminated persistent abdominal dysfunction and severe pains, pains that had deeply distressed me and completely stumped western-medicine doctors for nine months.                                                                                                                                       I started having sharp abdominal pains late last Winter, sometimes rolling on the floor in discomfort, and they persisted every day through the Spring, Summer and Fall.  I am a man who can put up with a lot, but I was so frightened by what I experienced that early on I took an emergency air ticket home just so I could get immediate medical treatment.  Over the months, I was seen by seven different Western-medicine doctors, whom I liked and whom I found to be generally good physicians.  Two of my closest friends are General Practitioners, and they helpfully guided me in finding the best doctors.  Despite extensive and increasingly costly scans and tests and a battery of prescription medicine, none of the doctors or their treatments could do anything for me, or the relentless pain, despite their best intentions. With ever-more-sophisticated scans, probes and drug treatments in store for me, I found myself able to be seen by Dr. Ryu in Los Angeles (Burbank) again.  I wish I'd seen him much earlier!
I was stunned and delighted by the wonderful results I experienced with Dr. Ryu - right afterwards I discovered myself laughing with relief.  After one intensive session of acupuncture (for me, I couldn't care less about acupuncture needles or what to me is their tiny discomfort), the pains I'd lived with every day for three-quarters of a year subsided dramatically.  After a day or two, I was still wary, doubting that the success could last - but it did!  I came back for a bit more treatment just to be sure, as I had been considering cancelling upcoming travel just out of fear I'd be stuck with these pains and end up having to seek treatment overseas.  After Dr. Ryu's successful acupuncture my plans are 'on' and I often find myself forgetting I ever had the abdominal pains that just recently had driven me to distraction..." - Johannes H.

ELBOW PAIN

"Got tendonitis?  Or tennis elbow? I did and lots of people said get acupuncture! Sure beats surgery right?!! I went here because of good Yelp reviews.  Needless to say my elbow was better after one session.  And I'm having Dr. Ryu help me with other pains now.  Try this guy out before going under the knife!" - John S.

FOOT PAIN

"After several months of dealing with a sports injury to my right foot, I decided to try acupuncture even though I hate needles.  I'd been to the podiatrist, had physical therapy, but nothing was making my foot any better.  Dr. Ryu is as good as it gets!   After several sessions, I was able to walk without feeling the painful swollen tendons in my foot and ankle.  After a few more sessions, I was able to get back to working out and exercising.   I can't thank Dr. Ryu enough!" - Cathy F.

HAND AND WRIST PAIN

"I was having hand pain that got increasingly worse over the course of about a month, so I looked up 'acupuncturist' and the reviews of Dr. Ryu were so great I called and made an appointment. They were able to take me the very next day and they take my insurance! Dr. Ryu is wonderful. He listens to your problems and concerns, he offers up real solutions, and there's no pressure to buy stuff outside of your budget. I wasn't expecting miracles, but within a couple of days after that first session, all of my hand pain was gone! I was blown away. All of that pain and discomfort I was worried I would just have to live with just disappeared after one visit! I highly recommend Dr. Ryu if you're looking for a wonderful practitioner. My fiance' is now visiting him for some ailments and loves him as well. Five stars aren't enough. Thank you, Dr. Ryu!" - Karen S.

INFERTILITY

"My partner and I had been trying to get pregnant for a year- Nothing was happening and so I began infertility treatments at a clinic as well. A nurse practitioner friend of mine who'd worked in infertility clinics suggested I find an acupuncturist to optimize my chances. I found Dr. Ryu as I was impressed with his testimonials and Yelp reviews. Dr. Ryu is fantastic. I explained why I was there, also letting him know that I had some issues with digestion. Within a couple treatments, I could really tell a difference in my body's digestion! I stuck to it, and saw Dr. Ryu 1-2 times/week for 6-8 weeks and I truly believe he was a factor in my becoming pregnant!! I am now in my second trimester and am looking forward to seeing Dr. Ryu again should I have any symptoms of discomfort! Also, I want to note that it was so easy to make appointments- his office is very flexible and makes sure to fit you in- and the lady at the front desk, Renie, is great- always friendly and relaxed and interested in how their patients are doing! It was a pleasure being a patient here and I have recommended Dr. Ryu to all of my friends!" - Kalli S.

LABOR INDUCTION

"...All the while, there I was a week overdue waiting for husband to heal and the baby to arrive. My OB threatened to induce labor with pitocin--totally against my wishes for a natural, drug-free birth since I had GD and he wouldn't let me go past 41 weeks. I went with my husband on a visit and we chatted briefly about how I was overdue. Dr. Ryu mentioned his success with inducing labor so it was worth a try instead of drug induction or mandatory c-section. I went in for 4 consecutive sessions and went into labor during the Sunday his office was closed. Was able to labor at home for two days and arrived at the hospital at 7 cm in active labor!
We really owe Dr. Ryu a huge thanks for helping with healing my husband's back, inducing my labor, and allowing me to have manageable labor pains. We're blessed with a happy, alert little baby boy. My husband was able to lift his little guy and helped me postpartum as his back healed quickly." - Anh M.  

MENSTRUAL AND PRE-MENSTRUAL ISSUES

"Holy cow.  My daughter had some health issues that weren't resolved by her Ob/Gyn.  Dr. Ryu spent some time with her, gave her some herbs to drink... fixed.  I can't say enough good about him.  Thank you." - John B.

"When I initially went to Dr. Ryu, I was experiencing extreme fatigue, chronic digestion problems, headaches and very painful period cramps. I knew that going to bed at 8:00 pm and still feeling tired in the morning was not normal for a 31 year old but no doctor could explain why. During a preliminary evaluation, Dr. Ryu asked me thorough and detailed questions. I immediately realized that he wanted to understand the whole picture of my health, unlike previous Western doctors I had seen. Through weekly acupuncture and herbal medicine (for a couple of months), I have begun to feel VERY different. I now feel refreshed in the morning after a great night's sleep and have energy throughout my day. I no longer have digestion issues; no more bloatedness, diarrhea or constipation. My hair is shinier, my nails stronger. The duration of my periods are shorter and I no longer suffer pain from menstrual cramps. Life feels so good again. I owe so much to this professional, caring and very talented doctor!" - Alison K.

MIGRAINES AND HEADACHES

"I must write to you and tell you that my migraine headaches have improved significantly after acupuncture treatments and herbal medications.  I am no longer suffering with intense headaches that would be totally debilitating.  My work is extremely stressful and I am certain that the care I have received from you has improved my overall health.
I hope that more patients will be open to trying acupuncture as a form of healing. As a healthcare professional, you are a kind and gentle man with excellent bedside manner.  I wish you the best in your practice and I will continue to be your patient." - Roxanne R.

NECK PAIN

"I found Dr. Ryu through the Yelp deals.  What a God send! My 13 year old son had been suffering with neck pain since December 2009.  He had an injury that left him in constant pain.  I had taken him to an orthopedist, chiropractor, physical therapy and finally out of desperation a Chinatown acupuncturist.  Over a thousand dollars later he was not any better.  When I saw the Yelp deal and realized Dr. Ryu was down the street from my work...I gave a last ditch effort to help my son.  Well, within four weeks my son is FINALLY pain free.  
My 14 year old son sustained an acute ankle strain/sprain.  His ligaments were torn and he could hardly walk.  Less than a month later he is completely healed.  
Dr. Ryu is aggressive...don't expect a light touch.  He gets results where others have failed.  I highly recommend him." - Laura A.

SCIATICA

"Dr. Jay Ryu is a miracle worker. My left sciatica has been causing me so much pain that I would cry. I had no relief after several weeks of massages and suggested stretches and exercise. I was very frustrated and depressed.  I had seen Dr. Ryu years ago, but so much time had passed that I wasn't too sure where his office was located. I was so pleased to find his practice through an Internet search. I made my appointment with him and he was able to see me immediately.  After my first visit the pain was less. After only three visits I have relief and I am getting better. I don't like taking pain medication to mask the pain and I want the issue resolved. Dr. Ryu is healing me and getting me back to normal.  Dr. Ryu's knowledge and experience makes me comfortable. He can explain everything before, during and after the acupuncture procedure. He helps you understand how your body works with the treatments and what you can do in between visits to continue the healing process. He is fabulous and I recommend him to anyone that is interested in getting help and issues resolved.  I can't explain it as well as he does, but I know that it WORKS and I am grateful that I was able to locate him and get my treatments." - Lisa D.

SHOULDER PAIN

"I saw Dr. Ryu because I had a torn rotator cuff and he helped me enough that I don't need surgery. I also have an enlarged liver. He did some acupuncture and I got some of his herbs and the swelling went down. I am now being treated for Restless Leg Syndrome so we'll see how it goes. So far I've been really happy with him. He seems to know what he's talking about and genuinely cares about helping people get well. He also takes the time to explain the process. I would recommend him and I have." - Jeannie A.

STRESS AND SLEEP ISSUES

"Dr. Ryu is amazing! He has helped me with a number of problems. I started seeing Dr. Ryu because of high blood pressure & stress related symptoms. There were times when I could not walk a few feet before my legs felt like they weighed a ton & I couldn't catch my breath, I felt as though a hand was in my chest just squeezing. Now I have no trouble moving around - I actually look forward to exercising - no more heavy legs, no more shortness of breath, no more having the life squeezed out of me.
Dr. Ryu also helped me stop clenching my jaw and grinding my teeth - until he started working on this issue I had no idea how often during the day I was doing this - how much strain it was putting on my jaw & how angry it made me feel -- now I have a totally relaxed jaw, no grinding of my teeth in my sleep - such a relaxing feeling.
I have always had a tough night’s sleep - terrible dreams, very stressful - again Dr. Ryu fixed that issue - I now have a pleasant night’s sleep & wake up happy & refreshed.
Dr. Ryu worked on all of these issues and more at the same time. His fixing of these issues has given me a new mindset in dealing with myself and the world around me.  Dr. Ryu has done acupuncture on me & I have been taking his magic tea.
No matter what your issue is Dr. Ryu can help - he is truly amazing. When he asks me what I am feeling currently, I feel like he already knows. He is very intuitive to your needs & what to do to get you back to functioning 100%! A million THANK YOU's to you Dr. Ryu!" - Audree' V.