Treatments in Conventional Medicine and Their Limitations
Conventional medicine uses medication and mechanical support to normalize pH. Under the diagnosis of a Korean Medicine doctor, BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic actively utilizes or recommends these conventional treatments (fluids, electrolyte correction).
- Alkali Administration: Injecting Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3) to neutralize acid in metabolic acidosis.
- Correcting Causes: Insulin (diabetes), Dialysis (renal failure, toxins), Ventilators (respiratory failure).
- Fluid Therapy: Correcting dehydration and electrolyte imbalance to alleviate alkalosis.
[Limitations]
While bicarbonate administration can temporarily raise pH, excessive use may worsen intracellular acidosis or cause edema and heart failure due to sodium overload.
Furthermore, for chronic renal failure or sepsis patients, simple numerical correction often fails to restore the broken metabolic system itself, and neurogenic alkalosis like hyperventilation syndrome is difficult to control with medication alone.
BM's Integrative Solution: Restoring Metabolic Function and Autonomic Regulation
BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic goes beyond artificial pH adjustment to restore the body's metabolic ability (Buffer System) to self-regulate acid and alkali.
- Rescuing Yang (Hwi-yang, 回陽救逆) - Improving Acidosis: For lactic acidosis or shock, we use formulas containing Ginseng and Aconite (e.g., Sambu-tang) to powerfully boost collapsed Yang Qi, restoring metabolic function and aiding acidic waste excretion.
- Unblocking Bowels & Draining Turbidity (通腑泄濁): For acidosis due to renal failure, we use Herbal Enema Therapy with Rhubarb (Daehwang) to excrete nitrogenous wastes (BUN, Cr) through the intestines, reducing the kidney's burden.
- Tranquilizing Mind (安心定悸) - Regulating Breathing: For respiratory alkalosis due to hyperventilation, we use Ganmaidazao-tang or acupuncture to stabilize the overactive sympathetic nervous system and restore breathing rhythm.
Evidence-Based Korean Medicine (Scientific Evidence)
Studies prove that Korean Medicine treatments are effective in improving acidosis from shock, excreting uremic toxins, and establishing psychological stability to prevent hyperventilation.
- Improvement of Lactic Acidosis by Shenfu Injection: A meta-analysis shows that Shenfu injection (Ginseng & Aconite) increases Lactate Clearance and stabilizes hemodynamics in septic shock patients, improving metabolic acidosis. (This aligns with the principle of boosting Yang to revive metabolism.)
- Huang P, Guo Y, Feng S, Zhao G, Li B, Liu Q. Efficacy and safety of Shenfu injection for septic shock: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2019;37(12):2197-2204. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2019.03.032
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- Improvement of Uremic Toxins & Kidney Protection by Rhubarb: It has been confirmed that treatment including Rhubarb significantly lowers Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and Creatinine (Scr) levels in chronic renal failure patients. This contributes to reducing the accumulation of uremic toxins that cause metabolic acidosis and preserving kidney function.
- Huang W, Rao Y, Li L, Li C, An Y. Clinical effect of rhubarb on the treatment of chronic renal failure: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2023;14:1108861. doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1108861
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- Psychological Stabilizing Effect of Ganmaidazao-tang: A meta-analysis indicates that Ganmaidazao-tang significantly reduces Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) scores and induces emotional stability in patients with depression. This helps resolve the underlying psychological instability (anxiety, depression) that triggers hyperventilation, aiding in the prevention of respiratory alkalosis.
- Jun JH, Choi TY, Lee JA, Yun KJ, Lee MS. Herbal medicine (Gan Mai Da Zao decoction) for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Maturitas. 2014;79(4):370-380. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.08.008
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