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Ulcerative Colitis Treatment Case:
The Truth About Inflammation Suppressed by Western Medicine
Why normal levels don't mean you're safe: The fundamental treatment for ulcerative colitis
A 30-something patient's case
HanStep Korean Medicine Clinic has been researching and treating ulcerative colitis since 2007. The 30-something patient who visited us this time was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in September 2025 after undergoing an endoscopy due to diarrhea and bloody stools. Although initially treated with Mezavant and Pentasa suppositories, there was no improvement on endoscopy after 4 months, leading them to visit our clinic for fundamental treatment of the root cause.
Key symptoms at the time of visit
- Bowel movements: 2-5 times a day, urgent bowel movements after meals
- Digestive system: Reflux esophagitis, diarrhea when eating spicy food
- Systemic: Chronic fatigue, allergic rhinitis, hyperhidrosis
The trap of calprotectin levels
At the time of the first visit, the calprotectin level was 40, within the normal range, but the fecal occult blood test was positive. This is because Western medication was temporarily suppressing the inflammatory response. Especially when inflammation is present only in the rectum, errors can occur depending on the stool collection method, so multiple tests and observations are essential.
Treatment process at HanStep Korean Medicine Clinic
1. Symptom-focused prescription
We began herbal medicine treatment considering systemic conditions such as digestive problems and rhinitis, which led to clinical improvement including a reduction in flatulence frequency and improvement in fatigue.
2. Gradual reduction of Western medication
As Western medication was reduced, the suppressed inflammation was revealed through an increase in calprotectin levels (696). Instead of suppressing this again with Western medication, we normalized it through herbal medicine treatment.
Treatment Results
Ultimately, both calprotectin and fecal occult blood tests returned to normal ranges without the use of Western medication. HanStep Korean Medicine Clinic maintains remission not through symptomatic treatment with unknown causes, but through treatment that fundamentally improves the intestinal environment.
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