Q If you treat impetigo with Korean medicine, in what specific order does it proceed?
A It proceeds in three stages: first, clearing heat and resolving toxin to expel heat-toxin and remove the foundation of bacterial infection; next, strengthening the spleen-stomach function to restore immunity; and finally, reinforcing the vital qi (jeong-gi) to prevent reinfection.
Detailed Answer
Treatment is carried out in stages. First, in the heat-clearing and toxin-resolving stage, formulas of the Omi-sodok-eum (Five-Ingredient Toxin-Resolving Decoction) or Hwangnyeon-haedok-tang (Coptis Toxin-Resolving Decoction) family are used to expel heat-toxin accumulated in the skin and support the immune response to the bacteria. This stage is combined with antibiotic treatment to quickly aid recovery in the acute phase. Once the crusts subside, it leads into an immune-recovery stage that restores spleen-stomach function and builds gut and skin immunity. Finally, it concludes by reinforcing the vital qi (jeong-gi) to raise skin defenses so that reinfection does not occur in the same season or environment.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang, we add herbal medicine and acupuncture to expel heat-toxin, prescriptions to strengthen the spleen and stomach, and treatment to reinforce vital qi, in sequence according to each stage. While the antibiotic targets the bacteria, the herbal medicine plays the role of helping the body recover quickly and building a foundation that resists reinfection.
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