The Dilemma and Limitations of Conventional Medical Treatment
To improve survival rates and control symptoms, conventional medicine relies on core chemical drugs such as SGLT-2 inhibitors, angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNI), beta-blockers, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA), and in severe cases, inserts mechanical devices like cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) into the body.
[Limitations and Critical Perspective]
These mechanical and chemical approaches may be essential to delay immediate symptom worsening.
However, the long-term use of diuretics and hormone blockers inevitably damages kidney function, leading to the dilemma of Cardiorenal Syndrome, diuretic resistance, severe hypotension, and electrolyte imbalance.
If we obsess only over correcting local numerical values and fail to fundamentally improve the rigid structural collapse of the heart muscle and the barren systemic environment caused by intestinal congestion, patients can never escape the endless cycle of readmissions.
BM's Integrative Solution: A Limitless Cardiopulmonary Recovery Design
When life is at risk due to severe acute exacerbations or fluid retention, BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic flexibly controls and operates the chemical drugs of modern medicine to protect the patient.
Furthermore, we provide true integrative treatment actively utilizing natural substances and acupuncture to offset the side effects of diuretics and hormone suppressors and fundamentally improve the heart's environment.
- Tonifying Heart and Lung & Invigorating Spleen to Promote Diuresis (Bo-ik-sim-pye / 補益心肺 and Geon-bi-i-su / 健脾利水): Using core natural substances, we replenish the energy of the heart and kidneys depleted by chemical drug abuse and restore digestive function to build the strength to metabolize fluids independently without forcing medication.
- Invigorating Blood and Removing Stasis (Hwal-hyeol-geo-eo / 活血祛瘀): Promoting microcirculation in the heart muscle with herbs like Salvia and Safflower to suppress rigid fibrosis and structural deterioration (remodeling) of the myocardium, which cannot be solved by mechanical devices.
- Acupuncture: Stimulating acupoints connected to the heart and kidneys to calm extreme sympathetic nerve excitation and deeply restore the balance of the autonomic nervous system disrupted by long-term medication.
- Lifestyle Redesign (Health Freedom Camp): Through the HF Camp, we completely correct diets and risk factors that increase blood pressure and cardiac load, completing a perfect body environment where heart failure can no longer progress.
Global Research Results Based on Modern Korean Medicine (Scientific Evidence)
Modern Korean Medicine does not stay in the traditions of the past.
By actively embracing scientific data, it integrates and overcomes the limitations of conventional medicine.
The following are research results from world-renowned authoritative journals proving that traditional Korean Medicine interventions embrace conventional medicine and create better clinical prognoses in heart failure management.
- Acupuncture Improves Exercise Tolerance in Heart Failure Patients
Chronic heart failure patients suffer from autonomic nervous system imbalance due to chronic hyperactivation of the sympathetic nervous system and decreased parasympathetic activity, a major cause of reduced exercise capacity and poor prognosis. According to a randomized, placebo-controlled trial (RCT) published in Heart, patients receiving true acupuncture showed a statistically significant increase in their 6-minute walk test (6MWT) distance compared to the sham acupuncture group. Furthermore, their heart rate recovery right after walking was exceptionally fast, and subjective fatigue (Borg scale) significantly decreased. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) analysis proved that acupuncture stimulation is a safe and effective adjunctive therapy that stabilizes sympathetic hyperactivation by increasing parasympathetic (vagus nerve) activity.
- Kristen AV, Schuhmacher B, Strych K, et al. Acupuncture improves exercise tolerance of patients with heart failure: a placebo-controlled pilot study. Heart. 2010;96(17):1396-1400. doi:10.1136/hrt.2009.187930
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- Multi-pathway Mechanisms of Traditional Korean Medicine for Cardiovascular Disease
While conventional medicine has made great strides in managing cardiovascular disease, it still faces limitations such as residual cardiovascular risk and adverse drug side effects. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) highlights the network pharmacology characteristics of complex traditional Korean Medicine prescriptions. Unlike Western medical approaches that act only on single receptors, natural substances like Salvia, Ginseng, and Astragalus simultaneously target diversified pathways such as metabolic disorders, inflammatory responses, and oxidative stress. Through this, they prevent myocardial apoptosis and inhibit cardiac remodeling, reducing side effects and maximizing therapeutic synergy.
- Hao P, Jiang F, Cheng J, Ma L, Zhang Y, Zhao Y. Traditional Chinese medicine for cardiovascular disease. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2017;69(24):2952-2966. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2017.04.041
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- Complementary and Alternative Medicines in the Management of Heart Failure: AHA Scientific StatementGlobally, over 30% of heart failure patients use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in addition to conventional standard drug therapy. A 2022 Scientific Statement by the American Heart Association (AHA) published in Circulation officially recognized integrative mind-body interventions like yoga and Tai Chi as safe interventions that improve the quality of life (QoL) and exercise tolerance of heart failure patients. Acupuncture also gained attention for its potential to alleviate symptoms through autonomic regulation. However, as certain herbal components pose risks of negative interactions with existing diuretics and heart failure drugs, this clearly suggests that such treatments must be prescribed and managed under the professional and meticulous supervision of medical staff equipped with integrative knowledge, like BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic.
- Chow SL, Bozkurt B, Baker WL, et al. Complementary and alternative medicines in the management of heart failure: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2022;147(2):e4-e30. doi:10.1161/cir.0000000000001110
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