Treatments in Conventional Medicine and Their Limitations
Conventional medicine excels at physically unblocking clogged vessels to resume blood flow.
Under the diagnosis of a Korean Medicine physician, BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic absolutely acknowledges the necessity of these emergency treatments and presents the optimal treatment path during the recovery phase after the procedure.
- Primary PCI: Inserting a stent to widen the vessel within the golden time after symptom onset.
- Thrombolytics: Dissolving clots with medication if hospital arrival is delayed.
- Medication: Antiplatelets, Beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and high-dose Statins are administered.
[Limitations]
While the large vessel is opened with a stent, blood flow disorders in microvessels (No-reflow) may persist.
Furthermore, lifelong medications for recurrence prevention come with side effects.
In particular, Statins lower cholesterol levels but raise concerns about muscle pain, increased risk of diabetes, and weakening of heart muscle due to Coenzyme Q10 depletion.
Cholesterol is not an enemy to be eliminated unconditionally; it is an essential component for cell membranes and hormones.
Simply lowering numbers may not be the complete answer for vascular health.
BM's Integrative Solution: Fundamental Therapy to Strengthen the Heart
BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic goes beyond the limits of conventional medicine.
Our goal is 'Complete Recovery', preserving the remaining heart function after acute treatment, reducing drug dependency, and creating a life without recurrence.
- Precision Diagnosis: We precisely track heart function (LVEF) and vascular inflammation status through echocardiography, Pulse Wave Velocity (HRV), and blood tests.
- Integrative Therapy: We prescribe Herbal Medicine such as 'Tongxinluo (Tongsimnak)' or 'Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (Hyeolbu-chukeo-tang)' to protect microvessels and help heart muscle regeneration. This is excellent for improving microcirculatory disorders after stenting. We also combine herbal treatments to reduce Statin side effects and strengthen vascular endothelial cells.
- Lifestyle Redesign (Health Freedom Camp): Through the 'HF Camp', we provide a diet that revives metabolism without burdening the heart. Rather than an unconditional low-cholesterol diet, we naturally purify blood vessels through meals avoiding oxidized bad fats and rich in antioxidants.
Evidence-Based Korean Medicine (Scientific Evidence)
Research results demonstrating that Korean Medicine treatments improve prognosis and lower the risk of recurrence and death in patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) and coronary artery disease.
- Effect of Tongxinluo on Outcomes in Acute Myocardial Infarction (JAMA RCT): In a large-scale study of 3,797 STEMI patients, combining 'Tongxinluo (Tongsimnak / 通心絡)' with standard treatment reduced the risk of Major Adverse Cardiac and Cerebrovascular Events (MACCE) by 36% at 30 days and 1 year. Notably, it significantly reduced cardiac death by 30%, proving its excellent effect on Microvascular Protection and prevention of reperfusion injury, which conventional medicine has not fully solved.
- Yang Y, Li X, Chen G, et al. Traditional Chinese medicine compound (Tongxinluo) and clinical outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction. JAMA. 2023;330(16):1534. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.19524
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- Comparative Efficacy of Oral Chinese Patent Medicines for CHD with Hyperlipidemia (Network Meta-Analysis): Analyzing 8,197 patients across 78 trials, it was confirmed that the optimal herbal medicine varies by patient condition. 'Xuezhikang (Hyeoljigang / 血脂康 - Red Yeast Rice)' was most effective for LDL reduction, 'Danlou (Danru / 丹蒌)' for Triglyceride reduction and HDL elevation, and 'Naoxintong (Noesimtong / 腦心通)' and 'Compound Danshen Dripping Pills (Bokbang-dansam-jeokhwan / 複方丹蔘滴丸)' for angina pain relief. This supports personalized treatment over uniform prescription.
- Yang Z, Li J, Zhou B, et al. Efficacy and safety of oral Chinese patent medicines in the treatment of coronary heart disease combined with hyperlipidemia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of 78 trials. Chinese Medicine. 2023;18(1):162. doi:10.1186/s13020-023-00866-x
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- Improvement of Cardiac and Endothelial Functions by Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction in ACS (Meta-Analysis): In a study of 2,123 patients, combining 'Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (Hyeolbu-chukeo-tang / 血府逐瘀湯)' with standard treatment significantly improved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF), increased Nitric Oxide (NO, vasodilator), and decreased Endothelin-1 (ET-1, vasoconstrictor). This suggests that Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction is a powerful vascular rehabilitation agent that restores damaged vascular endothelial cells and preserves heart pump function.
- Chen S, Wu X, Li T, et al. The Improvement of Cardiac and Endothelial Functions of Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu Decoction for Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2022;2022:1-14. doi:10.1155/2022/2671343
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