Modern medicine explains the wisdom of Donguibogam through the concept of somatic symptom disorder. Somatic symptom disorder refers to situations where various physical symptoms arise that are difficult to explain medically, yet actual tests reveal no specific abnormalities. This is not mere malingering; it is a very complex and genuine process in which our mind expresses psychological distress, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, through physical language.
In our body, there is a remarkable system called the gut-brain axis. It functions like a communication network where the brain and gut constantly exchange signals to regulate our body's functions. When stressed, the brain secretes stress hormones like cortisol, which affect intestinal motility and can trigger symptoms like indigestion, abdominal pain, and irritable bowel syndrome. In addition, as the autonomic nervous system balance is disrupted, symptoms such as heart palpitations, chest tightness, and a foreign body sensation in the throat known as plum-pit qi (globus hystericus) may appear. This can also occur when anxiety or tension continuously contracts the muscles of the pharynx.
Chronic stress also promotes inflammatory responses and weakens the immune system. From a neuroscientific perspective, stress affects brain regions such as the amygdala and hippocampus, creating difficulty in emotional regulation and increasing sensitivity to pain. In other words, stimuli that were once tolerable can feel like more intense pain under stressful conditions. Moreover, it can alter the way our body's somatosensory cortex interprets pain signals, causing one to feel pain even in the absence of actual tissue damage.
An imbalance of neurotransmitters also plays a crucial role. Neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine are deeply involved not only in mood, sleep, and appetite, but also in pain regulation. When the secretion of these substances is disrupted by stress, emotional difficulties may be accompanied by unexplained physical pain. Ultimately, a somatic symptom can be understood as an integrated response where mental distress brings about complex changes across the entire body, including the nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system. This is why it is essential not merely to eliminate symptoms, but to identify and manage the root cause of stress.
