AKOM News (https://www.akomnews.com)
Contributed by Dr. Jewon Lee, Director of BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic
: Peering into Internal Medicine, 13th
2024. 10. 16.
"I have chronic headaches, and it's hard to read a book or work on the computer for more than 20-30 minutes because my eyes feel heavy, stiff, and my vision gets blurry."
A female patient in her 50s visited us, suffering from chronic headaches and eye symptoms for over 10 years, along with severe fatigue, dry mouth, and swollen, painful joints. She had received multiple treatments at clinics like ophthalmology and orthopedics, but her symptoms did not improve.
Exploring the Internal Aspects of Disease
At BMK Clinic, we practice "Internal medicine by Korean Medicine physicians." Internal medicine is the field of exploring the 'inner aspects' of a disease , and Korean Medicine KM has significant strengths in this area.
To find the cause of a patient's symptoms, we use KM diagnostic methods (tongue and pulse diagnosis) alongside venipuncture for blood testing as a common diagnostic tool. This is to understand the internal condition, make an accurate diagnosis, and evaluate treatment outcomes.
Diagnosis: Inflammation and the Possibility of Autoimmunity
The patient's blood test results showed very high inflammation markers (hs-CRP 35.40 mg/L, ESR 78 mm/hr) and signs of anemia (Hemoglobin 10.6 g/dL). However, her white blood cell (WBC) count was normal, making inflammation due to infection unlikely.
Further tests revealed high levels of Rheumatoid Factor (RF 24.2 IU/ml) and IgA, strongly suggesting the inflammation was likely due to an autoimmune response. In addition to Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome was also suspected.
From a KM diagnostic (Byeonjeung) perspective, her condition was identified as 'Blood Deficiency (血虛)' and 'Yin Deficiency (陰虛),' indicating that a lack of bodily fluids and blood had led to dysfunction in the immune system.
Treatment: Focusing on the Root Cause
Rather than focusing on a specific disease name, we planned an herbal medicine (decoction) treatment focused on the root cause: 'Why is this autoimmune response occurring?'
- 1 Week Later: The patient's voice grew stronger, her mouth felt less dry, she could read for 60 minutes (up from 30), and her headaches became milder.
- 3 Weeks Later: Her fatigue improved enough to allow her to travel.
- 7 Weeks Later: Her inflammation markers (hs-CRP, ESR) returned to the normal range.
- 10 Weeks Later: Her HbA1c level also decreased to 5.4.
The Result: A Return to a Vibrant Life
After 4 months of intensive treatment, the patient summarized her results: "My headaches are completely gone, my daily life feels lighter, and my concentration has improved. My fatigue is resolved, and I feel light and energetic."
Now, more than two years after completing treatment, the patient continues to maintain her recovered health through regular check-ups and monitoring.
Blood tests via venipuncture are a crucial diagnostic tool in the Korean Medicine internal medicine clinic, allowing us to understand the inner aspects of a disease and provide an objective basis for treatment.
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Peering into Internal Medicine⑬ - AKOM News
“I have chronic headaches, and my eyes feel heavy, stiff, and my vision is blurry.” Phlebotomy is one of the main Korean Medicine treatment procedures and a common diagnostic tool used in the Korean Medicine physician's internal medicine clinic.
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