Treatments in Conventional Medicine and Their Limitations
Conventional medicine aims to eliminate infection and alleviate symptoms through medication and procedures.
- Antibiotics: Standard treatment for bacterial cystitis.
- Medication (IC/BPS): Tricyclic antidepressants (Amitriptyline) or antihistamines are used for pain relief, or Pentosan polysulfate is prescribed to coat the bladder lining.
- Intravesical Instillation & Hydrodistention: Drugs are injected directly into the bladder, or the bladder is distended with water under anesthesia to increase capacity.
[Limitations]
Overuse of antibiotics leads to resistant bacteria and destroys beneficial bacteria, causing a vicious cycle of recurrence.
For Interstitial Cystitis, conventional medications often fail to completely eliminate pain, and side effects like dry mouth, constipation, and drowsiness make long-term use difficult.
Procedures like hydrodistention often provide only temporary relief.
BM's Integrative Solution: Strengthening Mucosa and Stabilizing Nerves
BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic goes beyond soothing inflammation to improve pelvic blood flow and stabilize hypersensitive nerves to prevent recurrence.
- Clearing Heat & Promoting Urination (淸熱利濕): For acute or recurrent cystitis, we use formulas like Yongdamsagan-tang or Paljeong-san to rapidly remove inflammation (Damp-Heat) from the bladder and reduce pain.
- Warming Kidney & Dispersing Cold (溫腎散寒): For cases caused by coldness like Interstitial Cystitis, we use Ojeok-san or Chukcheon-hwan to warm the lower abdomen and promote pelvic blood circulation, relaxing bladder muscle tension.
- Electroacupuncture Therapy: We use electroacupuncture to stimulate the Sacral nerves, modulating bladder sensory nerves (Neuromodulation) and fundamentally improving frequency and urgency.
Evidence-Based Korean Medicine (Scientific Evidence)
Studies verify that Korean Medicine treatments are effective in relieving pain in Interstitial Cystitis and preventing recurrent cystitis.
- Acupuncture for IC/BPS: According to a literature review, acupuncture reduces symptoms of Pain, Frequency, Urgency, and Nocturia by approximately 50%. It has been confirmed as a safe and effective non-pharmacological treatment option for patients refractory to conventional treatments.
- Ignashov YA, Kuzmin IV, Deng B, Slesarevskaya MN. Acupuncture in the treatment of patients with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome. Urology Reports (St - Petersburg). 2015;5(4):27. doi:10.17816/uroved5427-29
-
- Prevention of Recurrent UTI: Reports indicate that herbal medicine treatment has the potential to inhibit recurrence more effectively than antibiotic monotherapy in women with recurrent urinary tract infections, or to enhance therapeutic effects when combined.
- Flower A, Wang LQ, Lewith G, Liu JP, Li Q. Chinese herbal medicine for treating recurrent urinary tract infections in women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015;2017(6):CD010446. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd010446.pub2
-
- Electroacupuncture for Overactive Bladder: It has been proven that electroacupuncture (specifically sacral stimulation) inhibits the expression of P2X3 receptors in the bladder, thereby lowering bladder sensory hypersensitivity. This confirms that acupuncture is not merely a placebo but a powerful Neuromodulation therapy that inhibits "Peripheral Sensitization."
- Feng QF, Zhang AD, Xing M, Wang X, Ming SR, Chen YL. Electroacupuncture alleviates bladder overactivity via inhabiting bladder P2X3 receptor. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2020;2020(1):4080891. doi:10.1155/2020/4080891
-
