Treatments in Conventional Medicine and Their Limitations
Conventional medicine focuses on suppressing immune responses. Under the diagnosis of a Korean Medicine doctor, BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic actively considers these treatments and recommends concurrent therapy to reduce side effects.
- Systemic Steroids: High-dose prednisone is used to powerfully suppress inflammation.
- Immunosuppressants: Rituximab, Azathioprine, Mycophenolate are used to block antibody production.
- Anti-inflammatories: Dapsone or antimalarials are used adjunctively.
[Limitations]
Long-term high-dose steroids can cause severe complications like diabetes, osteoporosis, and susceptibility to infection, and tapering often leads to relapse.
Some conditions, like scleroderma, can be resistant to conventional drug therapies.
BM's Integrative Solution: Clearing Heat and Restoring Balance
BM Korean Internal Medicine Clinic cools the overheated immune system and regenerates damaged tissues to reduce steroid dependency.
- Clearing Heat & Detoxification (淸熱解毒): For acute pemphigus, we use Hwangryeonhaedok-tang to rapidly expel blood heat and subside blisters.
- Nourishing Yin & Clearing Heat (滋陰淸熱): For chronic lupus, we use Rehmannia-based formulas to replenish depleted fluids and calm immune hypersensitivity.
- Invigorating Blood & Resolving Stasis (活血化瘀): For scleroderma, we use Salvia (Danshen) and Safflower to restore microcirculation in hardened vessels and tissues.
Evidence-Based Korean Medicine (Scientific Evidence)
Studies prove that Korean Medicine treatments are effective in reducing steroid dosage in pemphigus, controlling disease activity in SLE, and regulating immune targets like "Natural Biologics".
- Efficacy of TCM Combined with Corticosteroids for Pemphigus: A meta-analysis of 10 RCTs showed that combining TCM with steroids resulted in a higher clinical remission rate (RR=1.16), significantly reduced steroid maintenance doses, and lowered infection rates (RR=0.44) compared to steroid monotherapy.
- Zhou T, Zhou P, Hua H, Liu X. Beneficial Effects and Safety of Corticosteroids Combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine for Pemphigus: A Systematic Review. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2015;2015:1-9. doi:10.1155/2015/815358
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- Improvement of SLE by Total Glucosides of Paeony (TGP): A meta-analysis of 19 RCTs (1,607 patients) confirmed that adding TGP to standard care significantly reduced disease activity (SLEDAI), anti-dsDNA antibodies, and inflammatory markers, while mitigating hepatotoxicity caused by immunosuppressants.
- Gong X, Li H, Guo H, et al. Efficacy and safety of total glucosides of paeony in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2022;13:932874. doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.932874
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- Molecular Mechanisms of TCM Compounds in Autoimmune Skin Diseases (Natural Biologics): A 2025 review elucidated that TCM compounds like Curcumin (JAK-STAT3 inhibition) and Resveratrol (SIRT1 activation) act as "Natural Biologics" by regulating Th17/Treg balance and blocking inflammatory pathways, offering a targeted approach for refractory diseases like Psoriasis and SLE.
- Wang Y, Bu P, Deng Y, Zhao W, Pan G. Research progress on traditional Chinese medicine compounds in autoimmune-related skin diseases. Frontiers in Immunology. 2025;16:1629288. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2025.1629288
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