The mechanisms of hwa-byung recognized centuries ago by the Donguibogam can be fully explained through modern medicine. Let us examine closely from neurological and endocrinological perspectives how intense emotions like feelings of unfairness and anger affect our body. It involves physiological responses far too complex and intricate to be dismissed simply as an illness of the mind.
When we experience stress or feel treated unfairly, our body immediately activates the fight-or-flight response. The amygdala detects a threat and sends signals to the hypothalamus, which activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. In this process, stress hormones such as catecholamines, including adrenaline and noradrenaline, and cortisol are sharply secreted. The heart beats faster, blood pressure rises, muscles tense, and breathing accelerates as the body enters an emergency state. All these reactions correspond remarkably well to the phenomenon of qi ascending in the Donguibogam and the modern medical stress response.
The problem arises when this stress response persists chronically. When unresolved resentment or anger accumulates for a prolonged period, our body continuously secretes excessive amounts of cortisol. While cortisol is essential for short-term survival, over the long term it suppresses immunity, promotes chronic inflammation, and impairs blood glucose regulation and sleep patterns. It can even damage the hippocampus in the brain, negatively impacting memory and learning ability.
In particular, symptoms such as heat sensation in the chest or chest tightness are closely related to a severe imbalance in the autonomic nervous system. When the sympathetic nerve becomes excessively active and the parasympathetic nerve is suppressed, stress on the cardiovascular system intensifies, blood vessels constrict, and the heart rate can become irregular. This can trigger chest pain and dyspnea similar to arrhythmia or angina pectoris. Furthermore, chronic stress alters gastrointestinal motility, leading to symptoms like dyspepsia, reflux esophagitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. This directly aligns with the concept in the Donguibogam where liver qi stagnation leads to qi stagnation and impaired digestive function. The impact of stress on gut health is becoming increasingly clear through recent research on the gut-brain axis.
Furthermore, chronic anger and resentment negatively affect the brainβs emotional regulation system. Disrupting the balance of key neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and GABA can cause conditions to develop into various emotional disorders like depression, anxiety, insomnia, and even panic disorder. Functional brain imaging studies have reported that chronic stress and anger reduce the function of the frontal cortex and weaken emotional self-regulation. This means the brain regions responsible for regulating emotions and suppressing impulses become compromised, which can lead to a vicious cycle where even minor triggers easily provoke anger outbursts or trap someone in feelings of unfairness.
In conclusion, hwa-byung is not merely a personality issue or a matter of willpower. It is a genuine disorder accompanied by distinct physical and psychological symptoms that manifest across the brain, nervous system, endocrine system, and cardiovascular system. Just as the Donguibogam viewed the heart as the dwelling place of the spirit, modern medicine scientifically demonstrates that the brain and heart are intimately connected in regulating our emotions and physical health. Do not ignore these signals; they require careful attention. Now is the time to listen to the vital message your body and mind are sending.
