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Ulcerative Colitis Treatment Case:
Step-by-Step Treatment to Break the Cycle of Relapse
A record of a patient in their 20s who achieved complete mucosal healing as seen on endoscopy without the use of Western medication
Concerns of a Male Patient in His 20s
Hello. This is HanStep Korean Medicine Clinic, where we have been researching and treating ulcerative colitis since 2007. This time, we would like to look at the case of a patient in his 20s who, starting in February 2025, experienced repeated worsening of symptoms despite taking numerous Western medications for bloody stools.
The patient was undergoing concurrent treatment with 5-ASA preparations such as Mezavant and steroids (Cortiment), but was caught in the typical vicious cycle where symptoms worsened whenever the steroids were discontinued.
Status at Initial Visit (October 2025)
- Western Medication Prescriptions: Taking multiple medications including Mezavant, Asacol suppositories, Cortiment (steroids), antibiotics, and antispasmodics.
- Main Symptoms: Bloody stool, mucus stool, fecal urgency (less than 1 minute), tenesmus, indigestion, asthma, and phlegm.
- Notable Findings: Anal secretion when passing gas due to weakened anal function.
Understanding the Cause Changes the Prescription
Many patients experience the vicious cycle of feeling better when using steroids and worsening when stopping them. There are more than six causes for ulcerative colitis, and in many patients, several causes act in combination. Treating the first cause reveals the second; the key is to not panic and adjust the prescription accordingly. We proceeded with fundamental treatment by addressing this patient’s respiratory and digestive issues in sequence.
Record by Treatment Stage
The journey from steroid dependency to complete remission.
Initiation of Respiratory and Digestive Treatment
We discontinued the use of steroids (Cortiment) and asthma medication, and improved asthma, coughing, phlegm, and upper digestive issues through Korean medicine treatment.
Transition to Inflammatory Prescription and Recovery Process
There was a temporary worsening in the middle, but we identified this as the revelation of the second cause and transitioned to an inflammatory-type prescription. Subsequently, the calprotectin level normalized to below 3.8, and all Western medications were sequentially discontinued.
Results: Recovery Proven by Endoscopy
In June 2026, after another proctoscopy performed while the patient was off all Western medication, we confirmed a very clean state with no congestion or bleeding. Even the doctor who performed the endoscopy was surprised at how healthy the condition was. By finding the cause and treating it in order, you can reach a perfect state even without Western medication.