Inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis/Crohn's Disease), is it really incurable? Recently in Korea, the prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease has been increasing, with reports of a 33% increase over 5 years. Inflammatory bowel disease occurs when the immune system of the intestinal mucosa becomes abnormally activated, causing excessive inflammation. Damage to the mucosa disrupts the intestine’s absorption and secretion functions and causes symptoms such as chronic abdominal pain, repeated diarrhea and mucus in the stool, bloody stool, and weight loss.
In Ulcerative Colitis, this inflammation is limited to the mucosa or submucosa of the large intestine. It is characterized by findings visible to the naked eye, such as swelling, redness, exudate, and loss of vascular pattern in the mucosa, appearing continuously from the rectum. In contrast, unlike Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease can cause inflammation in all parts and layers of the intestine, and pathologic findings often appear in scattered areas rather than continuously.
Inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis/Crohn's Disease): why is it so difficult? The Causes of inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis/Crohn's Disease) have not yet been clearly identified, but several factors are thought to be involved. First, it may arise from an excessive immune response in the body and may occur together with autoimmune diseases. Environmental factors, such as a Westernized lifestyle, are also known as major Causes.
In addition, metabolites resulting from changes in the intestinal microbiota environment may also be a cause. Family history can also be an important cause, and there have been reports that the prevalence within families with genetic factors is significantly higher than in groups without such factors.
Lastly, psychological factors such as mental stress may also have an effect. In particular, with Crohn's Disease, smoking may promote its development and worsen symptoms.
Inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis/Crohn's Disease): is treatment impossible? Inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis/Crohn's Disease) is a chronic, difficult-to-treat condition, so treatment is not easy. Because it develops through the combined effects of factors such as Westernized lifestyle habits, stress, and immunity, it often recurs even if symptoms are reduced through treatment. In Western medicine, medications such as oral or enema steroids are usually applied first, but many patients have difficulty continuing them because of side effects or intolerance.
In addition, surgery may be considered when there are findings such as toxic megacolon, intestinal obstruction due to perforation or stricture, fistula, abscess, uncontrolled bleeding, or malignant tumor. When a clear organic cause is not identified, care or treatment to reduce inflammation and help restore normal bowel movement is needed.
Also, the longer symptoms continue, the more time recovery may take, and symptoms such as low energy, chronic fatigue, and weight loss may accompany them, so it is very important to receive proper treatment early. In Korean medicine, inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis/Crohn's Disease) falls into categories such as intestinal dysentery (腸澼), blood in stool (便血), diarrhea (泄瀉), abdominal pain (腹痛), accumulation (積聚), recurrent dysentery (休息痢), and chronic dysentery (久痢). Treatment can be approached by considering the patient's condition and constitution, distinguishing deficiency and excess (虛實), and assessing the functions of the spleen-stomach and intestines as a foundation.