While the wisdom of the Donguibogam has spoken of our body's peace for a long time, modern medicine explains the process of that peace being broken in more detailed scientific language. Chronic gastritis, represented by heartburn, nausea, and dyspepsia, is a disease in which continuous inflammation occurs in the gastric mucosa, beginning as the protective shield of the gastric mucosa becomes damaged due to various causes.
The most common causes include Helicobacter pylori infection, long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and the consumption of irritating foods such as alcohol or overly spicy and salty meals. The gastric mucosa normally possesses a powerful defense system called the gastric mucosal barrier that protects itself from gastric acid. However, when these irritations persist, this barrier collapses, allowing gastric acid to directly contact the stomach wall, inducing inflammation and causing tissue damage.
In particular, stress in modern individuals has a severe impact on gastrointestinal health. The brain and intestine communicate closely through a complex neurological and endocrine network called the gut-brain axis. Under stressful situations, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is activated, increasing the secretion of stress hormones such as cortisol. These hormones can alter gastrointestinal motility via the vagus nerve, increase gastric acid secretion, and reduce gastric mucosal blood flow, further worsening stomach wall damage. In addition, stress promotes the secretion of cytokines that induce inflammatory responses and disrupts the balance of the gut microbiota, which leads to further exacerbating gastrointestinal inflammation.
Phlegm-fluid retention and damp-heat described in the Donguibogam can be understood from the perspective of modern medicine as comprehensive concepts encompassing the accumulation of unnecessary waste in the gastrointestinal tract, chronic inflammatory response, and dyspepsia resulting from gastrointestinal hypofunction. Inflammatory mediators such as histamine and prostaglandin secreted by inflammatory cells in the gastrointestinal mucosa increase vascular permeability to cause edema and stimulate nerve endings, thereby inducing heartburn and pain. In this way, the stomach is like a small universe where our body's immune system, nervous system, and endocrine system are intricately intertwined. Finding and addressing all the causes that hurt the stomach is the key to regaining a healthy stomach.
