In modern medicine, the concept of essence from the Donguibogam connects deeply with our biological energy system. Sleep disorders like insomnia and nocturia serve as important signals indicating combined imbalances across the autonomic nervous system, hormonal balance, and brain function.
A primary reason for restless nights is a disrupted biological clock, or circadian rhythm. Melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain, induces and supports sound sleep. However, late-night exposure to blue light from smartphones or screens, along with irregular routines, suppresses melatonin secretion. The brain is tricked into thinking it is still daytime, making it hard to fall asleep. Additionally, chronic stress overstimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which governs the fight-or-flight response. When the sympathetic nerve remains activated late into the night after keeping us alert during the day, the parasympathetic nerve cannot properly calm and restore the body. While the physical body feels exhausted, the brain remains trapped in hyperarousal.
Furthermore, the depletion of essence closely mirrors adrenal fatigue. Chronic stress continually activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which can lead to excessive secretion of the stress hormone cortisol. Normally, cortisol drops at night and rises toward dawn to wake the body. When the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is disturbed, this nocturnal decline fails to occur, interrupting deep sleep. In effect, the body remains in combat mode all night.
Frequent nighttime urination from nocturia is also too significant a health indicator to write off as mere aging. The posterior pituitary gland secretes antidiuretic hormone, which controls urine volume in the kidney to reduce output during sleep. Yet due to aging, sleep deprivation, conditions such as diabetes or heart failure, or an autonomic nervous system imbalance, antidiuretic hormone secretion may falter or kidney responsiveness may decline, keeping urine volume elevated through the night. In particular, eating salty or spicy foods late in the evening raises blood osmotic pressure, prompting thirst, higher fluid intake, and worsening nocturia.
Ultimately, essence depletion corresponds in modern terms to a comprehensive imbalance across energy regulation, hormones, and the nervous system. These factors interact to compromise sleep and diminish daytime vitality. Rather than chalking it up to simple tiredness or age, pay close attention to the SOS signals your body is sending. The body is remarkably delicate and responsive.
