How would it look if we interpret the concepts of wind and phlegm from Donguibogam through the lens of modern medicine? First, throbbing pain, one of the most characteristic symptoms of migraine, is deeply related to changes in cerebral blood vessels. The throbbing pain that feels like a beating heart occurs because specific blood vessels in the brain dilate, irritating surrounding nerves and triggering an inflammatory reaction. Stress, certain foods such as caffeine, cheese, and chocolate, sleep deprivation, and hormonal changes can affect this vasoconstriction and dilation, triggering headache seizures. The unpredictable, wandering pain that Donguibogam calls wind can be understood as arising from microscopic vascular changes in cerebral blood vessels and hypersensitivity reactions of the nervous system.
In addition, the concept of phlegm can be linked not only to simple phlegm but also to our body's metabolic waste and inflammatory substances. Chronic stress, irregular dietary habits, and lack of exercise hinder our body's metabolism and accelerate inflammatory responses. When these inflammatory substances and metabolic waste accumulate around the brain, they stimulate the nervous system and induce micro-neuroinflammation, which lowers the headache threshold. In particular, the connection between gut health and brain health has recently received much attention. There are research findings showing that toxins and pro-inflammatory cytokines generated by gut dysbiosis travel through the blood flow to the brain, causing neuroinflammation, which can be an aggravating factor in migraines. Remembering that Donguibogam viewed phlegm as being deeply connected to spleen-stomach dysfunction, this aligns fascinatingly with the modern medical concept of the gut-brain axis.
Furthermore, the nausea and hypersensitivity reactions to light or sound frequently reported by migraine patients are closely related to autonomic nervous system imbalance. When stress is severe or fatigue accumulates, sympathetic nerves become excessively activated, which can cause vasoconstriction and cranial nerve hypersensitivity reactions, further worsening migraines. Ultimately, wind and phlegm from Donguibogam can be interpreted as concepts encompassing diverse, complex factors explained in modern medicine, such as vascular changes, neuroinflammation, metabolic imbalance, and autonomic nervous system disturbances. Rather than merely suppressing pain with an analgesic, identifying and managing these fundamental causes will be the key to breaking free from the tiresome cycle of chronic migraine.
