When we examine the wisdom of Donguibogam through the lens of modern medicine, it is remarkable how scientific this concept of balance between water and fire truly is. In modern medicine, xerostomia is interpreted not merely as a state arising from a lack of saliva, but as an important warning signal sent by our body's complex physiological systems.
The first thing to consider is the role of the autonomic nervous system. Our body has an autonomic nervous system that regulates life activities such as heartbeat, digestion, and salivary secretion regardless of conscious will. It is broadly divided into the sympathetic nerve responsible for tension and excitation, and the parasympathetic nerve responsible for rest and relaxation. The heart fire qi mentioned in Donguibogam can often be explained in connection with sympathetic hyperactivity in modern medicine. When the sympathetic nerve becomes excessively activated by stress, anxiety, or overwork, the body enters an emergency state and suppresses salivary gland activity. Because energy is conserved and directed toward fighting or fleeing, functions like digestion and salivary secretion are pushed to low priority. In this state, the salivary glands fail to function properly, leaving the inside of the mouth thoroughly dry.
In addition, deficiency of kidney water qi is closely related to our body's fluid balance and hormonal changes. While salivary gland function itself may decline with age, in menopausal women, a decrease in estrogen causes atrophy and functional decline of the salivary glands, triggering xerostomia. Endocrine disease such as thyroid gland dysfunction or diabetes can also disrupt salivary gland function, deepening oral dryness. In diabetic patients in particular, when blood glucose rises, increased urine output causes a shortage of body fluids, making the mouth even drier.
Furthermore, medications we casually take can also be the main culprits of dry mouth. Numerous drugs have side effects that suppress salivary gland secretion, including antihistamines commonly found in cold medicines, diuretics among hypertension drugs, antidepressants, and hypnotic agents. Drug-induced xerostomia is more common than one might think, and in such cases, medication adjustments in consultation with your attending physician may be necessary.
Xerostomia can cause serious problems for oral health beyond simple discomfort. Saliva plays a crucial role in washing away bacteria in the oral cavity, removing food debris, and protecting teeth. When saliva is insufficient, the incidence of dental caries increases sharply, gum disease worsens, white tongue coating accumulates, and halitosis can intensify. In severe cases, one may lose the proper sense of taste, or dysphagia may lead to digestive disorders. Therefore, if you are currently suffering from dry mouth, remember that this is an SOS signal from your body; do not take it lightly, and be sure to consult a medical professional to find and resolve the root cause.
