The nose is our body's vital air pathway, and Korean medicine viewed it as the gate of the lung. The lung is an essential organ that governs the body's qi and oversees respiration. Therefore, it was believed that only when the nose is healthy can the qi of the lung circulate smoothly, allowing clear qi to disperse properly throughout the entire body. But what happens when the nose becomes completely blocked with runny discharge from sinusitis, known as deep-source nasal discharge (biyeon)?
In the Donguibogam, sinusitis was also described as rhinorrhea (noeru). It was seen as if fluid were leaking from the brain, with cloudy nasal discharge flowing constantly, causing a dull feeling in the head, and in severe cases, even inducing headaches and dizziness. It was regarded not merely as a localized nasal issue, but as an ailment affecting the head, the most vital part of our body. When cold and damp qi or turbid qi from the outside enters through the nose and obstructs the qi of the lung, clear qi cannot ascend and descend freely. Turbid qi then accumulates inside the nose, giving rise to inflammation and phlegm fluid. This phlegm fluid turns into sticky, yellow mucus, swelling the nasal mucosa and causing nasal congestion.
When the nose remains blocked for a long time and breathing becomes uncomfortable, the qi of the lung gradually weakens. The lung is closely tied to defensive qi (wigi), which guards the outermost perimeter of our body—in other words, immune function. As the qi of the lung weakens, our body's defense barrier loosens, leaving us more vulnerable to external pathogens and viruses. This often leads to a vicious cycle of catching colds easily or taking longer to recover once sick. In this way, the Donguibogam recognized early on that a single problem in the nose can disrupt the whole body's qi circulation and lower immunity, becoming a key reason for ongoing exhaustion and lethargy.
