The Donguibogam's emphasis on blood is also recognized in modern medicine as a key factor in scalp health. Modern science explains scalp blood circulation not merely as nutrient transport, but as a fundamental mechanism that sustains the complex physiological activity required for hair growth. The hair follicle is one of the most metabolically active tissues in the human body, and the microvessels in the scalp continuously supply these follicles with oxygen and nutrients. Only when these blood vessels function properly can hair follicle cells divide actively and generate healthy strands of hair.
When scalp blood circulation is impaired, essential nutrients, such as amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, as well as oxygen, become deficient in the hair follicle. Just as logistics stall when traffic is blocked on a highway, stagnant circulation starves the hair follicle, causing hair to grow thin and weak, halt its growth, and eventually shed. This corresponds with the Donguibogam's observation that 'when blood becomes deficient, hair shortens.'
Furthermore, modern medicine links scalp heat to local inflammatory responses and autonomic nervous system imbalance. Under heavy stress or chronic fatigue, the sympathetic nerve becomes overactive, impairing blood flow to the scalp, constricting vessels, and raising scalp temperature. This chronic low-grade inflammation and heat degrade the environment around the hair follicle, shortening the hair growth cycle and accelerating alopecia. Hormonal imbalance is another major contributor; specifically, when the androgen testosterone is converted into DHT (dihydrotestosterone) by 5-alpha reductase, it causes hair follicles to shrink, an effect that can worsen when blood supply is insufficient.
The stress hormone cortisol also constricts scalp vessels and provokes inflammatory reactions, adversely affecting hair health. In the end, healthy scalp blood circulation plays an indispensable role not only in blood supply, but also in activating hair follicle cells, managing inflammation, and preserving hormonal balance across the entire scalp environment. Modern science continues to clearly demonstrate the wisdom found in the Donguibogam.
