Throbbing Migraine: Could It Be Due to Liver Heat?

From a modern medical perspective, the liver heat described in Donguibogam is closely related to chronic stress and the resulting autonomic nervous system imbalance, particularly sympathetic nerve hyperactivation. Continuous stress excessively stimulates the body's hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, increasing the secretion of stress hormones like cortisol. These hormones repeatedly cause abnormal constriction and dilation of cerebral blood vessels, which increases the brain's pain sensitivity and alters blood flow to specific brain regions, serving as a primary mechanism that triggers migraines. In particular, when the trigeminal nerve around the brain becomes activated, neuropeptides such as calcitonin gene-related peptide are released, triggering neurogenic inflammation and creating a cycle that further amplifies pain signals. Pain around the eyes and dizziness can appear when the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve is stimulated, or when autonomic nervous system imbalance affects the optic nerve and vestibular system. Furthermore, eye strain from excessive screen time creates tension in the muscles around the eyes, further worsening headaches. The concept of liver heat does not refer solely to the liver as an isolated organ. Rather, it serves as a classical framework describing systemic overload and imbalance, particularly dysregulation of the nervous system and endocrine system. In other words, liver heat can be seen as an integrated manifestation of inflammatory responses and metabolic imbalances caused by modern lifestyle factors such as stress, sleep deprivation, irregular eating habits, and environmental toxin exposure. Managing liver heat therefore goes beyond taking medicinal herbs; it involves making comprehensive lifestyle adjustments to restore the balance of body and mind.