Treatments in Conventional Medicine and Their Limitations
Conventional medicine focuses on relieving symptoms by widening narrowed vessels or reducing the burden on the heart.
Under the diagnosis of a Korean Medicine physician, BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic clearly understands the mechanisms of these drugs and includes or adjusts them in the treatment plan when necessary.
- Pharmacotherapy: Nitrates (expand blood vessels), Beta-blockers (slow heart rate to reduce oxygen consumption), Antiplatelet agents like Aspirin (prevent clots), and Statins (lower cholesterol).
- Intervention (PCI) & Surgery (CABG): Procedures to physically widen vessels with stents (PCI) or create bypasses using other vessels (CABG).
[Limitations]
Stent procedures are powerful methods to physically open blockages, but they cannot change the internal body environment that caused the blockage in the first place.
Therefore, blockages may recur in other vessels, or restenosis may occur within the stent.
Furthermore, medications taken for a lifetime can be accompanied by side effects such as gastrointestinal issues, muscle pain, and lethargy.
In cases like Microvascular Angina, where the problem isn't in large vessels, conventional treatment alone may fail to improve symptoms.
BM's Integrative Solution: Flowing Vitality Again
BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic goes beyond the limits of conventional medicine.
Our goal goes beyond simply eliminating pain; we aim for complete recovery, where the heart and vessels maintain healthy circulation on their own.
- Precision Diagnosis: We scientifically analyze vascular status and systemic risk factors using ECG, blood tests (lipid metabolism, inflammation markers), and carotid ultrasound.
- Integrative Therapy: We use herbal medicines containing Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) and Cnidium to aid blood circulation and protect vascular endothelial cells. Acupuncture regulates the autonomic nervous system to reduce heart burden and alleviate pain. When combined with conventional drugs, this increases efficiency and reduces side effects.
- Lifestyle Redesign (Health Freedom Camp): Through the 'HF Camp', we thoroughly correct your diet and lifestyle. An anti-inflammatory diet and personalized exercise are the most powerful treatments to clear the blood and restore vascular elasticity. We help you escape a life dependent on drugs and regain health freedom.
Evidence-Based Korean Medicine (Scientific Evidence)
Research results demonstrating that Korean Medicine treatments are effective alternatives for improving symptoms and protecting cardiovascular health in managing chronic stable angina and ischemic heart disease.
- Adjunctive Effect of Acupuncture for Chronic Stable Angina (Randomized Clinical Trial):In a multicenter RCT involving 404 patients with chronic stable angina, the group receiving acupuncture on heart-related meridians (e.g., Neiguan/Naegwan, Tongli/Tongni) combined with medication showed a significantly greater reduction in angina frequency compared to the sham acupuncture group (average difference at 16 weeks: -4.07 attacks). This study, published in a top-tier medical journal, proves that acupuncture has a substantial effect on symptom control.
- Zhao L, Li D, Zheng H, et al. Acupuncture as adjunctive therapy for chronic stable angina. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2019;179(10):1388. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.2407
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- Effect of Herbal Medicine (Shexiang Baoxin Pill) on Angina and ECG (Meta-Analysis):An analysis of 4,229 patients showed that combining 'Shexiang Baoxin Pill (Sahyang-bosim-hwan / 麝香保心丸)' with standard Western treatment resulted in significantly higher rates of angina symptom improvement (RR=1.20) and ECG normalization (RR=1.25) compared to standard treatment alone. It fundamentally treats the cardiovascular system through a multi-target mechanism, specifically by lowering vascular inflammation markers (hs-CRP, IL-6) and increasing endothelial protective substances (NO).
- Wei J, Ma T, Zhou C, et al. Efficacy and safety of Shexiang Baoxin Pill for stable coronary artery disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 42 randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2022;13:1002713. doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.1002713
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- Efficacy of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction for Coronary Heart Disease (Meta-Analysis):In an analysis of 43 RCTs, the group combining 'Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (Hyeolbu-chukeo-tang / 血府逐瘀湯)'—a representative formula for blood circulation—with standard medication showed superior angina improvement rates (OR=3.65) and ECG recovery rates (OR=2.76). It was also proven valuable as a multi-target therapeutic by improving lipid metabolism (lowering LDL-C, raising HDL-C) and suppressing vascular inflammation.
- Zhang S, Chen ZL, Tang YP, Duan JL, Yao KW. Efficacy and Safety of Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu Decoction for Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2021;2021:1-19. doi:10.1155/2021/9931826
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