Our ancestors explained the cause of such back stiffness by connecting it with climate changes inside the body.
In the Donguibogam, the stiffening and aching of the joints in our body, including the spine, is described as bi syndrome. It was understood that bi syndrome arises mainly when three pathological influences—wind, cold, and dampness—invade the body. We can explain this through an everyday comparison.
Imagine a room with its door left wide open with cold wind blowing in, filled with chilling air like a refrigerator, and steeped in sticky dampness like the rainy season. The objects in that room would freeze stiffly, grow damp, and fail to function properly. Our bodies are much the same. When cold and damp qi from outside seeps into the back and lingers, the meridians and the flow of qi and blood around the back become blocked, much like a congested road.
Naturally, qi and blood should circulate constantly, keeping every corner of the body moist and warm. However, cold qi contracts the blood vessels, and dampness makes the body heavy and sluggish, obstructing the flow of qi and blood. When wind is added, pain can wander from place to place or become even more intense.
When qi and blood cannot circulate properly and become obstructed, the muscles and joints around the back fail to receive sufficient nourishment and gradually harden. In particular, morning stiffness tends to be worse because cold qi lingers overnight, slowing down circulation throughout the body. The Donguibogam describes this state as 'disharmony of qi and blood' and 'contracture of sinews and bones', meaning muscles and bones stiffen and contract. It emphasizes that this is not simple muscle pain, but a signal arising from an imbalance deep within the body. Rather than viewing it as mere tightness, it is worth listening closely to what your body is trying to say.
