Crohn's Disease Treatment Case:
A Healthy Daily Life Even After 13 Years
The power of fundamental treatment that corrects immune system malfunctions
At 21, Facing Crohn's Disease
Hello. This is HanStep Korean Medicine Clinic, which has been researching and treating Crohn's disease since 2007. Recently, a patient who first visited us in 2013 at the age of 21 returned as a fully grown adult at age 32.
Since high school, the patient had suffered from frequent diarrhea and abdominal pain. They came to our clinic after failing to see improvement despite being prescribed Pentasa and immunosuppressants at a large general hospital.
Main Symptoms at 2013 Visit
- Bowel Movements: Twice a day, one of which was diarrhea
- Abdominal Pain: Moderate pain 1-2 times daily
- Digestive System: Loss of appetite, severe nausea, and retching
- Associated Symptoms: Rhinitis, cold abdomen syndrome
Why does the immune system malfunction?
Autoimmune diseases are caused by a problem in the immune system's 'self-identification' function. While Western medicine focuses simply on suppressing inflammation, I look for the fundamental cause of why the immune system attacks normal cells. By diagnosing and treating the physical imbalances the patient has—such as indigestion, rhinitis, and cold abdomen—using Korean medicine, the immune system stabilizes, and inflammation naturally disappears.
Treatment Progress and Management Record
Intensive Treatment Phase
We focused on treating rhinitis, digestive issues, and the cold abdomen symptom. The low white blood cell count (3.5), which appeared as a side effect of immunosuppressants, recovered to the normal range (5.3) after treatment, and the abdominal pain and nausea disappeared completely.
Long-term Management Phase
Even after finishing treatment, the patient has maintained a normal life for 13 years by taking herbal medicine briefly whenever their condition dipped. In a recent 2026 check-up, a calprotectin level of 21 and a negative occult blood test confirmed a healthy state.
Closing
It is deeply rewarding to see a patient who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease now enjoying an ordinary daily life and growing into a capable adult through consistent Korean medical treatment and management. HanStep Korean Medicine Clinic will continue to do our best for the quality of life of our patients.