Over the past century, human life expectancy has increased dramatically. A hundred years ago, the average person lived to around 50. Today, that number is closer to 80 — and 100 no longer seems out of reach. As we live longer, the question of how well we live becomes just as important as how long.
And yet, one category of disease continues to pose a serious threat to that quality of life: inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — a chronic autoimmune condition in which persistent inflammation develops in the digestive tract.
Its cause remains unknown. And it is widely considered incurable. Western medicine and Korean medicine each approach it differently — and understanding both may matter more than you think.
What Is an Autoimmune Disease?
White blood cells are the body's defense force — like soldiers or police officers. When bacteria or viruses enter the body, white blood cells identify and attack them. They also eliminate internal threats: cancer cells, damaged cells, and inflammatory cells.
But in autoimmune disease, something goes wrong. Instead of targeting only harmful cells, white blood cells begin attacking the body's own healthy tissue.
When the Body Attacks Itself
The most fundamental function a white blood cell must have is the ability to tell healthy cells apart from harmful ones. When that ability malfunctions, white blood cells attack indiscriminately — triggering inflammation throughout the body.
Medicine uses the umbrella term autoimmune disease to describe this malfunction. Depending on where the inflammation occurs, it takes different forms — lupus, systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and more.
When Autoimmune Disease Targets the Gut
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers specifically to chronic autoimmune inflammation in the digestive tract. The two most common conditions are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Behçet's intestinal disease is also classified under IBD.
IBD rates are rising every year. As of 2023, an estimated 90,000 people in Korea, 400,000 in Japan, and over 2.3 million in the United States are living with IBD.
1. Ulcerative Colitis
- Occurring in the mucosal lining of the large intestine
- Causes diarrhea and abdominal pain as the colon becomes irritated
- As inflammation deepens, internal bleeding develops — leading to bloody stools and mucus in stool; severe bleeding can progress to anemia
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In Korea and Japan, ulcerative colitis is more than twice as common as Crohn's disease
2. Crohn's Disease
- Occurring throughout all layers of the entire digestive tract, from mouth to anus
- Most commonly affects the duodenum, small intestine, and large intestine
- Because all layers of the intestinal wall are affected, complications can include intestinal perforation, strictures, obstruction, abscesses, and fistulas
- Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody stools; poor nutrient absorption leads to significant weight loss
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25% of all Crohn's disease patients develop anal fistulas. Unlike ordinary fistulas, these often fail to heal after surgery — and can persist for years.
When medication fails to control symptoms, bowel resection surgery becomes the last resort. For Crohn's disease in particular, 80% of patients will require bowel resection surgery within 20 years of diagnosis. Because inflammation keeps returning to the same areas of the intestine, the risk of colorectal cancer is also significantly higher than in the general population.
How Western Medicine Diagnoses and Treats IBD
The exact cause of autoimmune disease remains unknown. Current understanding points to a combination of factors — genetic, environmental, hormonal, and immune regulatory dysfunction — working together.
As a result, Western medicine has no definitive cure for autoimmune conditions. Most are managed with a similar approach: NSAIDs, steroids, immunosuppressants, and biological agents. But none of these treatments are curative — IBD is widely considered a lifelong condition.
Immunosuppressants are commonly used to reduce inflammation, but their effectiveness is limited. Steroids are comparatively more effective, but long-term use carries serious risks.
Side effects include Cushing's syndrome, moon face, cardiac enlargement, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, memory loss, hair loss, hirsutism, stretch marks, skin thinning, skin ulcers, easy bruising, purpura, menstrual irregularities, and secondary adrenal insufficiency — among others.
Biological agents can be effective in some cases, but their effects are generally not sustained beyond three months to five years.
Hanstep Korean Medicine Clinic has been researching and treating autoimmune conditions — including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease — through Korean medicine since 2007, with clinical findings published in peer-reviewed journals.
If you've been told there's no cure, Korean medicine may offer a different path. Visit Hanstep's website to learn more — available in English and Japanese.
In future journals, we'll cover the Korean medicine approach to Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis — including how steroid side effects like Cushing's syndrome are understood and treated.
Dr. Lee Byung-hee
| Hanstep Korean Medicine Clinic, Chief doctor
