Treatments in Conventional Medicine and Their Limitations
Conventional medicine focuses on blocking blood coagulation to prevent clots from growing or moving.
Under the diagnosis of a Korean Medicine physician, BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic acknowledges the necessity of acute-phase anticoagulant therapy and presents the optimal path for subsequent management and complication prevention.
- Anticoagulants: Heparin injections, Warfarin, and recent DOACs (NOACs) like Rivaroxaban are administered to thin the blood.
- Thrombolysis & Filters: In severe cases, drugs are used to dissolve clots, or filters are inserted into the inferior vena cava to block clots from reaching the lungs.
[Limitations and Critical Perspective]
Anticoagulants inhibit clot formation but cannot remove existing clots, and patients must carry the risk of fatal bleeding, such as cerebral or gastrointestinal hemorrhage, for life.
Additionally, 'Post-thrombotic syndrome', characterized by leg swelling and pain even after treatment, is difficult to resolve with conventional medicine.
Meanwhile, a cautious approach is needed regarding Statins, often prescribed for vascular disease prevention.
Statins lower cholesterol but deplete Coenzyme Q10, a nutrient that protects blood vessel walls, and cause muscle pain, potentially reducing the patient's physical activity.
Reduced activity is a primary culprit in worsening venous circulation.
We must not lose the patient's vitality by becoming obsessed with controlling numbers.
BM's Integrative Solution: Clear Blood, Unstoppable Circulation
BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic goes beyond the limits of conventional medicine.
Our goal is to naturally lower blood viscosity and restore vessel elasticity to achieve 'Complete Recovery' where circulation is maintained without drugs.
- Clearing Heat & Resolving Stasis: Medicines like 'Danhong Injection' or 'Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (Hyeolbu-chukeo-tang)' remove inflammation (Damp-Heat) in vessels and improve microcirculation, effectively treating edema and pain in post-thrombotic syndrome.
- Non-invasive Transdermal Therapy: For patients who cannot take oral medication due to reduced kidney function, we improve blood flow without liver/kidney burden through transdermal therapy using patches containing herbal ingredients.
- Lifestyle Redesign (Health Freedom Camp): Through the 'HF Camp', patients stop consuming processed foods that trigger inflammation and make anti-inflammatory diets and hydration a habit. Also, personalized exercise prescriptions that revive the calf muscle pump function restore the driving force of venous circulation.
Evidence-Based Korean Medicine (Scientific Evidence)
Research results demonstrating that Korean Medicine treatments exert excellent effects in preventing and treating DVT and managing complications through anti-inflammatory actions and blood flow improvement.
- Efficacy of Herbal Medicine Combined with Rivaroxaban for DVT (Meta-Analysis): A study of 704 patients showed that combining herbal medicine with Rivaroxaban resulted in a 3.65 times higher total effective rate than Rivaroxaban alone. In particular, it reduced leg edema (circumference difference), the greatest pain for DVT patients, more quickly and effectively, and significantly lowered vascular inflammation levels (IL-6, TNF-α) without increasing bleeding side effects, confirming it as a safe adjunctive therapy.
- Zheng D, Qi G, Adu IK, Wu H, Zhu M. Efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine combined with rivaroxaban in the treatment of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis: A meta-analysis. Medicine. 2022;101(39):e29483. doi:10.1097/md.0000000000029483
-
- Effect of Xueshuantong Injection for Preventing Post-Orthopedic Surgery DVT (Meta-Analysis): Analyzing 2,429 patients undergoing joint replacement or fracture surgery, the group administered 'Xueshuantong Injection' (Sanqi extract) showed a 50% lower risk of DVT compared to the standard preventive agent, Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH). Notably, the bleeding side effect rate was significantly lower at 35% of the Heparin group level, proving it to be an excellent alternative for patients with bleeding risks after surgery.
- Yan ST, Gao F, Dong TW, et al. Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials of Xueshuantong Injection in Prevention of Deep Venous Thrombosis of Lower Extremity after Orthopedic Surgery. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2020;2020(1):717-721. doi:10.1155/2020/8877791
-
- Effect of Transdermal Herbal Therapy for Preventing DVT in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients (Clinical Study): In patients with chronic glomerulonephritis and uremia where anticoagulant use is difficult, applying herbal patches (Transdermal Therapy) resulted in a significantly lower DVT incidence compared to the control group. Blood viscosity markers like D-dimer improved, but systemic bleeding risk (aPTT/PT) was unaffected, confirming it as a safe and effective preventive measure without liver/kidney toxicity.
- Yong W. Effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine transdermal therapy in preventing lower limb deep vein thrombosis in chronic glomerulonephritis and uremic patients. Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2025;38(5):1859-1866. doi:10.36721/pjps.2025.38.5.reg.14686.1
-
