Treatments in Conventional Medicine and Their Limitations
Conventional medicine focuses on calculating and replenishing the water deficit. Under the diagnosis of a Korean Medicine doctor, BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic actively utilizes conventional treatments, including fluid therapy.
- Fluid Replacement: Encouraging oral water intake or administering intravenous fluids like 5% Dextrose (D5W) or hypotonic saline to lower sodium levels.
- Medication: Desmopressin (DDAVP) is used for Central DI, while paradoxically, diuretics (Thiazides) or NSAIDs are used for Nephrogenic DI.
[Limitations]
While fluid supply is essential, lowering sodium levels too rapidly can trigger Cerebral Edema, leading to seizures or death.
Additionally, for Diabetes Insipidus or geriatric dry mouth, relying solely on hormones or fluids often leads to recurrence as effects wear off or fails to restore the central thirst mechanism, leaving patients at chronic risk of dehydration.
BM's Integrative Solution: Filling the Spring by Nourishing Yin (補陰)
BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic reduces the risks of rapid fluid administration and helps the body naturally retain moisture.
- Nourishing Yin & Generating Fluids (滋陰生津): We use formulas like Baekhogainsam-tang or Shengmai-san to replenish depleted fluids and relieve dryness in the mouth and throat, inducing natural thirst relief and water intake.
- Tonifying Kidney & Astringing (補腎收斂): For leakage like Diabetes Insipidus, we use Yukmijihwang-tang or Cornus Fruit to solidify Kidney energy and prevent fluid loss (regulating Aquaporins).
- Clearing Heat & Purging Fire (淸熱瀉火): We cool unnecessary internal heat to prevent fluid evaporation and protect brain cells.
Evidence-Based Korean Medicine (Scientific Evidence)
Studies prove that Korean Medicine treatments are effective in activating water channels, relieving thirst, and protecting kidney function to improve hypernatremia.
- Promotion of Salivary Secretion by Byakkokaninjinto (Baekhogainsam-tang): It has been revealed that Byakkokaninjinto stimulates M3 muscarinic receptors on salivary gland cell membranes, increasing intracellular calcium concentration and causing Aquaporin-5 (AQP5) to move (Translocate) to the apical membrane, thereby promoting salivary secretion.
- Yanagi Y, Yasuda M, Hashida K, Kadokura Y, Yamamoto T, Suzaki H. Mechanism of salivary secretion enhancement by Byakkokaninjinto. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 2008;31(3):431-435. doi:10.1248/bpb.31.431
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- Hypoglycemic Effect of Byakkokaninjinto: Research indicates that Byakkokaninjinto exhibits significant blood glucose-lowering effects in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes animal models. This effect is attributed to the "Blend effect" of the mixture, primarily Anemarrhena and Ginseng assisted by Gypsum, rather than the action of a single component.
- Kimura I, Nakashima N, Sugihara Y, Fu-Jun C, Kimura M. The antihyperglycaemic blend effect of traditional Chinese medicine Byakko-ka-ninjin-to on alloxan and diabetic KK-CAy mice. Phytotherapy Research. 1999;13(6):484-488. doi:10.1002/(sici)1099-1573(199909)13:6
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- Renal Protective Effect of Liu Wei Di Huang Decoction (Yukmijihwang-tang): A study reports that Liu Wei Di Huang Decoction acts as an Anti-fibrotic agent, preventing structural degeneration of renal blood vessels. It strongly increases the expression of SIRT1 (Sirtuin 1) in kidney tissue, inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
- Wang H, Chen SS, Zhang YX, et al. Liu Wei Di Huang Decoction alleviates renal fibrosis by inhibiting endothelial mesenchymal transitions via upregulating SIRT1 expression and inhibiting the WNT/Β-Catenin signaling pathway. Drug Design Development and Therapy. 2025;Volume 19:6587-6603. doi:10.2147/dddt.s517938
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