Hello.
We are Hanstep Korean Medicine Clinic, specializing in the research and treatment of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn’s Disease since 2007.
Today, I’d like to share a case of a teenage ulcerative colitis patient.
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Why Teenage UC Is So Serious
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When UC develops in a teenager, it is a deeply serious matter. With today’s average life expectancy well past 80, a diagnosis in your teens could mean 70 or even 80 years of living with this disease — repeated bouts of diarrhea, bloody stools, and abdominal pain.
Conventional Western medicine does not cure ulcerative colitis. That is why proper treatment matters for every patient, but especially for teenagers.
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Patient Background
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In November 2025, this patient began experiencing bloody stools. Initially thinking it was hemorrhoids, he eventually underwent colonoscopy and other tests, leading to a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis.
At the first hospital visit, the doctor — without being asked — told him: “Herbal medicine has no effect, so don’t take it.”
This is simply not true. That doctor knows nothing about Korean Medicine. And knowing nothing, he was imposing misinformation on a patient.
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What the 2025 ACG Guidelines Say
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In 2025, the American Journal of Gastroenterology (AJG) published updated UC diagnostic and treatment guidelines. These guidelines cite research on a combination of Qing Dai and curcumin, two herbal compounds.
The study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial — the gold standard of clinical research design. It targeted patients with mild to moderate UC who were not sufficiently controlled by 5-ASA or biologics.
After approximately 8 weeks of treatment, the study found:
- Increased clinical remission rates
- Significant improvement in endoscopic scores
- Reduction in fecal calprotectin
- Improved mucosal healing rates
The world’s leading gastroenterology journal openly acknowledges the efficacy of herbal medicine — yet some doctors continue to tell patients not to take it without examining a single piece of evidence.
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First Visit: March 2026
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The patient visited Hanstep Korean Medicine Clinic in March 2026.
He was taking Pentasa granules 2g, 4 packets per day.
Symptoms at first visit:
- Bowel movements: once every 2 days, normal stool
- Bloody stools present
- Mucus-like tissue occasionally passed
- Mucous stool at the beginning of defecation
- Diarrhea when eating spicy food (e.g. spicy ramen)
- Rhinitis since childhood — runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes from dust and cold wind
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March 10, 2026 — Initial Test Results
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Fecal Calprotectin: 533
Fecal Occult Blood: Positive (≥1200)
Even on Pentasa, inflammation markers remained high and bloody stools continued. However, the patient had not used steroids or other strong medications — which was fortunate given his age.
There were no digestive system issues, so treatment began immediately targeting the inflammatory cause.
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March 23, 2026 — First Follow-up
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- Bowel movements: once every 2 days, normal stool
- Sensation of incomplete evacuation: completely resolved
- Bloody stools and mucus-like tissue: reduced
- Mucous stool at the start of defecation: improved by approximately 40%
Symptoms were improving steadily.
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April 17, 2026 — Calprotectin Rises to 1,853
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Fecal Calprotectin: 1,853 — higher than the initial value.
Clinical symptoms were improving, yet the calprotectin had risen sharply. This is a signal: the first prescription had done its job and addressed the initial cause, but now a new cause had surfaced. It was time to change the prescription.
This is exactly why I always emphasize to patients: do not skip your scheduled tests just because you feel better. Calprotectin reveals changes that symptoms alone cannot show.
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Prescription Changed → Rapid Improvement
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The prescription was changed to an inflammatory-type formula.
May 6, 2026:
- Bowel movements: once every 2 days, normal stool
- Bloody stools, mucous stool, and incomplete evacuation: all resolved
And something unexpected: the rhinitis symptoms — runny nose and sneezing from dust and cold wind — also improved significantly. This suggests the rhinitis was not primarily a respiratory issue, but rather a manifestation of systemic inflammation.
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May 29, 2026 — Calprotectin: 26
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Fecal Calprotectin: 26
From 1,853 on April 17 to 26 on May 29 — in just over one month. This rapid drop was possible because the first prescription had already addressed the previous layer of causes. Once the next prescription was introduced, improvement came quickly.
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June 26, 2026 — Calprotectin: 16
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Fecal Calprotectin: 16. Excellent.
Pentasa tapering began.
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July 29, 2026 — Off All Medication
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Pentasa was discontinued on July 20.
As of July 29:
- Bowel movements: once every 2 days, normal stool
- No bloody stools, no mucous stool, no incomplete evacuation
- Fecal Calprotectin: 16
Completely normal — with no medication at all.
The plan is to continue monitoring for a few more months, then confirm with colonoscopy. If normal, treatment will be concluded.
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Two Key Lessons from This Case
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- Don’t skip your tests just because you feel better.
Between March and April, symptoms were improving — but calprotectin jumped to 1,853. If we had continued the same prescription without testing, the condition would have gradually worsened. Regular testing caught it in time.
- Herbal medicine for UC has been validated at the highest international level.
The 2025 ACG guidelines cite a rigorous RCT showing herbal medicine (Qing Dai + curcumin) improves clinical remission, endoscopic scores, calprotectin, and mucosal healing in UC patients.
A doctor who tells patients “don’t take herbal medicine” without looking at any evidence is not practicing medicine — they are practicing ignorance. This patient and his family were right not to listen, and the results speak for themselves.
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If you have questions about teenage UC, treatment sequencing, or calprotectin monitoring, please leave a comment. I’ll address them in future posts.
▶️ Watch our YouTube video on this case:
https://youtu.be/v3cM6BrStkQ
Please turn on subtitles to watch.
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HanStep Korean Medicine Clinic – Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic
https://hanstep.co.kr/en/
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