Modern medicine diagnoses a protrusion in the neck as a thyroid nodule, and the persistent sensation of something lodged in the throat as a foreign body sensation in throat. While these two symptoms may seem unrelated, they often demonstrate how closely the body and mind are connected, echoing the insights of Donguibogam. First, a thyroid nodule refers to a mass caused by abnormal cell proliferation within the thyroid gland. More than half of all adults experience this condition during their lifetime, and fortunately over 90 percent are benign. However, as a nodule grows, it can cause a throat constriction sensation, dysphagia, and hoarseness. Neck ultrasonography is essential for diagnosis, and fine-needle aspiration biopsy is performed when necessary to determine whether a nodule is benign or malignant.
Meanwhile, the foreign body sensation in throat—described traditionally as plum-pit qi—is clinically known as globus sensation. This is a condition in which the feeling of something caught in the throat persists despite the absence of any true physical obstruction. Digestive system issues like gastroesophageal reflux disease, postnasal drip in chronic rhinitis, and psychological factors such as stress and anxiety play major roles. When tension or anxiety rises, the muscles around the throat, especially the cricopharyngeus muscle, contract excessively and produce this sensation.
Here, the Donguibogam concept of qi and blood stagnation aligns with modern physiology. Stress disrupts the balance of the autonomic nervous system, which in turn influences the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and thyroid gland function. Chronic stress interferes with the secretion and metabolism of thyroid hormone, and studies suggest it can trigger inflammatory responses that contribute to the development or enlargement of thyroid nodules. Stress also increases gastric acid secretion and tightens throat musculature, worsening globus sensation.
Discomfort in the neck may not stem merely from a localized lump or mild indigestion. It can be a genuine signal from the body asking for rest and emotional care. While consulting a specialist is essential whenever a lump is palpable, it is equally valuable to pause and calmly reflect on the signals your body and mind may be sending.
