The wisdom of Donguibogam—that all organs in our body are organically connected—shines just as brightly in modern medicine. In particular, gut health is now revealed to exert a profound influence far beyond simple digestion and excretion, extending to our body's immunity, mental health, and even chronic disease. This is all thanks to the small universe called the gut microbiome.
Over 100 trillion microorganisms live inside our intestines. Going beyond merely digesting food, they ferment the food we eat to produce beneficial substances such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), synthesize vitamins, and play a crucial role in regulating the immune system, especially since more than 70% of our body's immune cells are concentrated in the gut. Donguibogam's statement that a deficiency in body fluids dries out the intestines aligns with what modern medicine describes: an imbalance in gut microbiota, or gut dysbiosis, which impairs the health of the intestinal mucosa and reduces the ability to absorb and excrete water.
In particular, gut dysbiosis, where beneficial gut bacteria decrease and harmful bacteria increase, becomes a primary cause of constipation. Beneficial bacteria are essential for increasing stool bulk and promoting intestinal peristalsis; when they cannot perform their role, stool hardens and intestinal motility slows down, making constipation likely. Furthermore, gut dysbiosis produces substances that induce inflammation in our body, which increases intestinal mucosal permeability and can lead to leaky gut syndrome.
Leaky gut syndrome refers to a phenomenon where the tight junctions between intestinal mucosal cells loosen, allowing toxins, undigested food particles, and bacteria that should never pass through to penetrate the intestinal barrier into the bloodstream. It has been revealed that these leaked substances trigger inflammatory reactions throughout the body, potentially causing autoimmune disease, allergies, skin problems, chronic fatigue, and even mental health issues such as depression or anxiety.
Donguibogam's observation that emotional stress blocks qi and induces constipation when the seven emotions suffer depression and stagnation also bears a striking resemblance to modern medicine's concept of the gut-brain axis. The gut possesses so many nerve cells and neurotransmitters that it is called the second brain, and it communicates bidirectionally and intimately with the brain. Stress alters intestinal motility and affects gut microbiota composition; conversely, gut dysbiosis affects the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin, which are involved in brain function and mood regulation, potentially amplifying anxiety or depression.
Ultimately, constipation is not just the discomfort of being unable to go to the bathroom, but can be a comprehensive signal that the balance of our body's immunity, inflammation, hormones, and nervous system has been disrupted. Understanding the larger picture hidden behind this small discomfort allows us to realize once again how important it is to care for our intestines.
