Treatments in Conventional Medicine and Their Limitations
Conventional medicine focuses on suppressing inflammation and relieving symptoms. Under the diagnosis of a Korean Medicine doctor, BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic utilizes these treatments in parallel or manages steroid rebound phenomena.
- Topical Therapy: Steroid ointments, calcineurin inhibitors (Protopic, etc.), retinoids.
- Systemic Therapy: Antihistamines, oral steroids, immunosuppressants (Cyclosporine, etc.), biologics (for psoriasis).
- Phototherapy: Using ultraviolet light (UVB) to suppress excessive immune responses.
[Limitations]
Steroids are powerful but long-term use can cause side effects like skin thinning and vasodilation, and rebound symptoms are common upon discontinuation.
Immunosuppressants lower systemic immunity, increasing infection risk.
Most importantly, they treat only the visible 'result' on the skin, failing to remove the internal 'causes' (toxins, heat) that trigger inflammation, leading to chronic recurrence.
BM's Integrative Solution: Detoxification (淸熱解毒) and Constitution Improvement
BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic does not suppress skin inflammation but helps the skin regenerate itself by expelling toxins and purifying the blood.
- Detoxification Therapy: Using formulas like Bangpungtongseong-san or Hwangryeonhaedok-tang to expel internal heat toxins through urine, stool, and sweat, cooling the skin and calming inflammation.
- Nourishing Blood & Moistening Skin (養血潤膚): For psoriasis or chronic atopic dermatitis, we use Danggwieumja to replenish blood and add moisture to the skin, settling scales and strengthening the barrier.
- Regulating Upper Heat & Lower Cold (上熱下寒): For acne/flushing patients with a hot face and cold hands/feet, we use acupuncture and herbal medicine to cool the upper body and warm the lower body, promoting circulation.
Evidence-Based Korean Medicine (Scientific Evidence)
Studies prove that Korean Medicine treatments are effective in alleviating inflammation and improving lesions in atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and acne.
- Improvement of Atopic Dermatitis by Xiao Feng San: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) showed that Xiao Feng San significantly reduced skin lesion area and itch scores in patients with atopic dermatitis and improved quality of life without side effects.
- Cheng HM, Chiang LC, Jan YM, Chen GW, Li TC. The efficacy and safety of a Chinese herbal product (Xiao-Feng-San) for the treatment of refractory atopic dermatitis: a randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled trial. International Archives of Allergy and Immunology. 2010;155(2):141-148. doi:10.1159/000318861
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- Treatment of Psoriasis with Indigo Naturalis: It has been proven that an ointment containing Indigo Naturalis significantly improves Clinical Severity Scores (composed of erythema, induration, and scaling) of target lesions in psoriasis patients, and inhibits epidermal cell hyperproliferation and inflammation..
- Lin YK, Chang CJ, Chang YC, Wong WR, Chang SC, Pang JHS. Clinical assessment of patients with recalcitrant psoriasis in a randomized, Observer-Blind, Vehicle-Controlled trial using Indigo Naturalis. Archives of Dermatology. 2008;144(11):1457-1464. doi:10.1001/archderm.144.11.1457
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- Anti-inflammatory Effect of Hyeonggaeyeongyo-tang and Acupuncture on Acne: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) demonstrated that the combination of Hyeonggaeyeongyo-tang (Keigai-rengyo-to) and acupuncture significantly reduced the count of inflammatory acne lesions. It was revealed that this treatment downregulates hTLR2 (Toll-like Receptor 2) expression on immune cells, thereby calming the excessive immune inflammatory response to acne bacteria.
- Kim KS, Kim YB. Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Keigai-rengyo-to Extract and Acupuncture in Male Patients with Acne Vulgaris: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2012;18(5):501-508. doi:10.1089/acm.2011.0218
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