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📖 Donguibogam > Neijing Pian, Chapter of the Inner Canon
The True Cause of Unexplained Headache and Dizziness or Vertigo: Phlegm-Fluid Retention
Translation Disclaimer
This content is a carefully translated version of traditional Korean medical records (Donguibogam) and its modern interpretations. While prepared by specialized medical translators, it is provided for informational purposes only. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health decisions.
Modern Symptoms
Why are we experiencing this pain?
"Do you wake up each morning feeling your head spin and constantly accompanied by a cloudy headache? Have you visited the hospital only to be told there's nothing specifically wrong, and these persistent pain and aches are too bothersome to simply dismiss as stress? Did you know they might actually be due to 'Phlegm-Fluid Retention' in your body?"
Modern Medical Proof
Modern Science Unveils the Stagnation of 'Phlegm-Fluid Retention': Cerebral Blood Flow Disorder and Subtle Disturbances of the Nervous System
The concept of 'Phlegm-Fluid Retention' described in Donguibogam (Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine) is not merely a Korean Traditional Medicine concept; it encompasses complex phenomena in our body that can be meaningfully understood through modern medicine. In particular, the connection between unexplained headache or dizziness or vertigo and Phlegm-Fluid Retention can be more clearly understood through modern neurology and cardiology, as well as recent, highly regarded gut-brain axis research.
First, the description of 'Phlegm-Fluid Retention' as 'body fluids and humors becoming stagnant and cloudy' can be interpreted as the accumulation of metabolic waste products in the body and an inflammatory response. When the body's metabolic function declines due to stress, irregular eating habits, persistent fatigue, etc., waste products that cells should produce and excrete are not processed smoothly and accumulate. This induces chronic inflammation at a microscopic level, and if these inflammatory substances are carried to the brain via blood circulation, they can cause microcirculatory disturbances of cerebral blood vessels. If the brain's capillaries become sticky or narrow due to these micro-inflammatory substances, oxygen and nutrient supply to the brain becomes impaired. This is referred to as 'reduced cerebral blood flow' or 'microvascular dysfunction'.
The brain is an organ that consumes the most energy in our body, and even a slight lack of blood supply can cause dysfunction. Specifically, if subtle blood flow disorder occurs in the vestibular organ or brainstem, or the small brain region, which significantly affect balance and cognitive function, dizziness or vertigo may appear. Furthermore, nociceptors around the brain can develop a hypersensitivity reaction to inflammatory substances or develop vascular contraction and relaxation issues, leading to chronic tension headache or migraine.
Recent research highlights the close connection between gut health and brain health, known as the 'gut-brain axis'. The Donguibogam (Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine) explanation that 'Phlegm-Fluid Retention' is related to the decline of digestive function can be linked to the phenomenon where inflammatory substances (e.g., lipopolysaccharides) induced by gut microbiota dysbiosis travel to the brain via blood and adversely affect brain function. If gut health is poor, it can also cause problems with neurotransmitter production, affecting emotional instability or cognitive decline. Thus, the ancient concept of 'Phlegm-Fluid Retention' can be multi-layered interpretation from a modern medical perspective as various disorders and symptoms, including chronic inflammation, metabolic syndrome, cerebral blood flow disorder, and gut-brain axis imbalance. Beyond simply having a painful and dizzy head, this is why we need to pay closer attention to our body's signals, as they may indicate Qi stagnation.
Tired of Headache and Dizziness or Vertigo? Start Managing Them This Way Today.
2 steps you can take right now
1
Practice regular meals, a balanced diet, and eat in moderation. Overeating places a burden on digestive organs, making Phlegm-Fluid Retention more likely to form. Eating easily digestible foods in moderation at regular times significantly helps to soothe digestive organs and reduce the accumulation of waste products in the body. Don't forget to eat warm food slowly and chew thoroughly.
2
Move your body with light stretching and walk whenever you have a moment. Intense exercise isn't necessary. Consistent movement promotes blood circulation and helps to expel Phlegm-Fluid Retention that has become stagnant in the body. In particular, stretching that gently loosens the area around the neck and shoulders is effective in improving blood flow to the head, helping to alleviate headaches.
Traditional Wisdom
Chronic Headache and Dizziness or Vertigo: Could They Be Signals from 'Phlegm-Fluid Retention' in Your Body?
Our bodies are made up largely of water. But what if this water isn't performing its role effectively, becoming stagnant, cloudy, and viscous somewhere in the body? Much like a clear stream that should be pristine becomes stagnant and turns into a murky pool. In Donguibogam (Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine), these unnecessary waste products that lose their function, accumulate in the body, and cause illness are referred to as 'Phlegm-Fluid Accumulation'. Phlegm refers to a viscous form, while retained phlegm fluid refers to a watery, thin form. Ultimately, they collectively signify damp-turbid Qi that has become stagnant in the body.
The problem with Phlegm-Fluid Retention is that it's a 'free spirit' that can truly go anywhere. It travels through the body's circulation of Qi and blood and circulates throughout the whole body. When it ascends towards the head, it obstructs mental clarity and makes the head feel heavy, like a sticky fog or mist covering the brain, inducing dizziness or vertigo. Donguibogam (Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine) clearly states, 'If Phlegm-Fluid Retention ascends, the head becomes dizzy and the heart palpitates.' Imagine a clear, clean brain filled with sticky fluid... Just the thought makes your head feel throbbing and dull, doesn't it? If food isn't properly absorbed and becomes stagnant due to impaired digestive function, or if circulation of Qi and blood is blocked by stress, Phlegm-Fluid Retention is more likely to form. Much like water accumulating in a dam and unable to flow freely. So, if digestion isn't functioning well, your body always feels heavy, and your head isn't clear, you should consider the possibility of Phlegm-Fluid Retention in your body.
Original Donguibogam Record
痰飲者, 水液積聚不化, 留滯經絡, 隨氣升降, 無處不到. 在上則頭眩, 令人心悸.
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Author: AI Donguibogam Research Team
We analyze Heo Jun's 'Donguibogam', a UNESCO Memory of the World, using modern data science and AI. Our goal is to reinterpret the wisdom of traditional medicine hidden in ancient texts to suit the lifestyles of busy modern people and deliver it in an easy-to-understand way.
Caution (Disclaimer): This content is for providing health information based on historical literature and cannot replace medical diagnosis and treatment. If you have any health problems, please consult a specialist (doctor/oriental medical doctor).