Q What is the treatment sequence after a gallstone diagnosis? At what stage is Korean medicine treatment best?
A In conventional medicine, ultrasound and CT are used to assess stone size and location, and watchful waiting, drug dissolution, ERCP, or laparoscopic surgery is decided step by step based on symptoms. Korean medicine treatment works well as a supplement during the watchful waiting stage or during recovery after surgery.
Detailed Answer
Small asymptomatic gallstones are managed with ultrasound follow-up first. If symptoms recur, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the standard treatment; common bile duct stones are removed endoscopically (ERCP). For those who prefer not to have surgery, ursodeoxycholic acid dissolution therapy is attempted but its effect is limited.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
During watchful waiting, choleretic and heat-clearing herbal medicine improves the bile environment and reduces symptoms. After surgery, formulas continue to support digestive function recovery and relieve postcholecystectomy discomfort, and constitutional management for relapse prevention is also pursued in parallel.
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Is it realistically possible to manage gallstones without surgery? Can Korean medicine treatment alone be enough?
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