Frequent Mood Swings? The Donguibogam's Secret to Emotional Control

The insights from the Donguibogam containing the wisdom of our forebears can also be explained through modern science. The perspective that our body's heart governs the spirit and emotions aligns, in brain science, with the functions of the limbic system and the prefrontal cortex. The limbic system, including the amygdala and hippocampus, processes and remembers primal emotions such as fear, anger, and pleasure, while the prefrontal cortex acts as a rational command center that helps regulate these emotions and make sound judgments. When stress persists, the body activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, releasing excessive stress hormones like cortisol. While these hormones initially help us cope with threats, chronic elevation overexcites the limbic system and impairs prefrontal cortex function, reducing the capacity for emotional regulation. Consequently, one becomes easily irritated by minor stimuli and vulnerable to depressive moods. Much like the Donguibogam describes heart fire boiling up, controlling emotions becomes difficult, as if a fire has flared up in the brain. In addition, imbalances in neurotransmitters—such as serotonin, often called the happiness hormone; dopamine, related to motivation; and norepinephrine, which regulates attention and arousal—are major causes of mood swings. These neurotransmitters are not produced solely in the brain. Remarkably, large amounts are synthesized in our intestines, meaning that compromised gut health can impair the production and absorption of these substances and adversely affect mood. This highlights the significance of the gut-brain axis. Chronic mood swings can even alter the brain's neural circuits. Through neuroplasticity, repeated negative emotional patterns reinforce those circuits, solidifying them like ingrained habits. Conversely, positive experiences and practice can reshape the brain to foster more flexible, healthy emotional responses. Restoring the harmony of the heart emphasized in the Donguibogam aligns, in modern medicine, with supporting healthy brain balance and stabilizing neurotransmitters. The body and mind interact continuously, working as one unified system.