The concept of harmony and imbalance among the five zang and six fu organs described in Donguibogam is remarkably persuasive from the perspective of modern medicine. Rather than working independently, the body's organs form a hyper-connected network woven through the nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system. Donguibogam's note that 'disease in one organ invariably draws in another' precisely captures these scientific interconnections.
First, consider the primary conductor of the body: the nervous system. Chronic stress disrupts autonomic nervous system balance. When the sympathetic nerve, which manages threat responses, becomes overactivated, heart rate accelerates, blood pressure climbs, digestive function undergoes hypofunction, and muscles tighten. Conversely, the parasympathetic nerve responsible for rest and digestion is suppressed. This disruption produces far more than simple anxiety; it surfaces as nonspecific complaints throughout the body, including gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome and dyspepsia, chronic fatigue, sleep disorders, headaches, and muscle pain. Donguibogam's concept of liver qi stagnation directly parallels this stress-induced autonomic nervous system disharmony in modern medicine.
Next is the endocrine system, our hormone network. Sustained stress overactivates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the brain, causing an irregular release of the stress hormone cortisol. Because cortisol oversees broad roles including blood glucose regulation, immune response, and inflammation control, losing this balance leads to impaired glucose handling such as insulin resistance, reduced immunity with frequent colds, and persistent chronic inflammation. It also affects thyroid hormones and sex hormones, provoking lower vitality, weight fluctuations, and mood swings.
One cannot overlook the gut-brain axis, a subject of major attention today. Far beyond a simple digestive organ, the gut is called the 'second brain' due to its close communication with the nervous and endocrine systems. The gut microbiota takes part in producing various neurotransmitters, including the mood-regulating hormone serotonin, while inflammatory states in the gut directly impact systemic inflammation and brain function. Deterioration in gut health can induce not only dyspepsia, but also low mood, anxiety, chronic fatigue, and even cognitive decline. Donguibogam's insight that the spleen and stomach serve as the root of all qi and blood foresaw the systemic significance of the gut.
In conclusion, the imbalance of the five zang and six fu organs found in Donguibogam matches the complex interplay among the nervous, endocrine, immune, and digestive systems illuminated by modern science. When pain appears in one region, rather than viewing it in isolation, understanding how all physiological systems interlock and identifying what broke that balance provides a truly integrative path to health.
