Translating the Donguibogam concept of phlegm-fluid into the language of modern medicine reveals that it is a profound insight encompassing diverse physiological imbalances beyond simple sticky liquids. When sounds in the ear, or tinnitus, and dizziness, or vertigo, occur together, modern medicine often suspects an inner ear issue, particularly endolymphatic hydrops such as Meniere's disease. Inside our ears lie the cochlea and vestibular system, which govern hearing and balance. These structures maintain an exquisite fluid balance, specifically the osmotic pressure balance between endolymph and perilymph, within a space completely sealed off from the outside.
However, when problems arise in the production and absorption of this endolymph due to stress, fatigue, autoimmune disease, allergic reaction, or a circulatory disorder, endolymph accumulates excessively, swelling up like a water balloon. As pressure inside the inner ear rises, surrounding sensory cells and nerves become compressed and develop dysfunction. This manifests as aural fullness, humming tinnitus, and spinning dizziness. This state can be interpreted as Donguibogam's phlegm-fluid presenting as stagnant fluid within the inner ear.
Furthermore, phlegm-fluid does not refer only to fluid retention; it is also deeply connected to chronic low-grade inflammation caused by the buildup of inflammatory substances and metabolic waste. Modern individuals frequently face Westernized dietary habits, such as processed foods, high sugar, and high fat, lack of exercise, sleep deprivation, and chronic stress, making it easy for pro-inflammatory substances to accumulate inside the body. This inflammation can damage vascular endothelial cells and increase blood viscosity, leading to microcirculatory disturbance. In particular, the delicate nerves and blood vessels inside the ear react sensitively to even minor damage, readily resulting in hypofunction. When blood circulation is impaired, the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the auditory nerve and vestibular nerve diminishes, and waste removal becomes difficult. Consequently, nerve cells may become damaged or hypersensitive, worsening tinnitus and dizziness.
Moreover, chronic stress causes an autonomic nervous system imbalance. Overactivation of the sympathetic nerve constricts blood vessels, which in turn reduces blood flow to the inner ear, creating a vicious cycle that aggravates tinnitus and dizziness. Corticosteroid imbalances also influence systemic fluid metabolism and inflammatory responses, potentially inducing symptoms similar to phlegm-fluid. In the end, phlegm-fluid can be seen as a metaphorical expression of an overall decline in physical condition, where multiple causes explained by modern medicine, such as fluid metabolism imbalance in the inner ear, microcirculatory disturbance, chronic inflammation, and autonomic dysfunction, work together to produce ear-related symptoms. Thus, tinnitus and dizziness are not problems of the ears alone, but signals that we need to examine our overall physical health.
