Now, let us translate the profound insights of Donguibogam into the language of modern science. Motion sickness occurs when temporary confusion arises in the way the brain processes information in a moving environment. What Korean medicine describes as the unimpeded flow of qi or harmony among organs can be interpreted in modern terms as neurological and physiological communication errors.
Our brain simultaneously uses information from multiple sensory organs to perceive movement. The vestibular system in the inner ear senses body movement and acceleration, while the eyes gather visual information to grasp how the surrounding environment moves. In addition, proprioceptors located in muscles and joints inform the brain of changes in body position and posture. All of this information gathers in the brainstem, a region of the brain, where it is integrated to create a coherent perception of our body's motion.
However, problems arise here. For example, imagine looking at a smartphone inside a moving car. The vestibular system tells the brain that the car is moving, but the eyes, looking only at the screen, send visual information that you are stationary. Conflicting, contradictory inputs enter the brain, leaving it unable to understand the situation and throwing it into confusion. It is much like people speaking different languages shouting at each other.
This sensory mismatch stimulates the vomiting center. Located in the medulla oblongata of the brainstem, the vomiting center triggers vomiting to protect our body when it senses severe stress or toxic substances. The brain misinterprets this confusing situation as exposure to a kind of toxic substance and decides that something must be discharged from the body immediately.
The autonomic nervous system is also activated during this process. In particular, excessive hyperactivation of the parasympathetic nerve increases salivation and accelerates gastrointestinal motility, causing nausea or, in severe cases, actual vomiting. What Donguibogam describes as discomfort in the stomach duct or phlegm-fluid may be closely related modernly to heightened gastrointestinal tract sensitivity caused by abnormal intestinal peristalsis, acid reflux, or gut dysbiosis. Furthermore, liver wood restricting spleen earth can be connected to autonomic nervous system imbalance suppressing stomach function under stress or tension. When stress hormones are secreted, blood flow to the digestive system decreases and motility drops, which can worsen indigestion and nausea.
Thus, motion sickness is not simply a problem isolated to the brain. It is an error in the brain's integration of diverse sensory inputs—including vision, vestibular sensation, and proprioception—and the resulting complex response involving the autonomic nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. Understanding the signals your body sends and reducing these communication errors is the wise first step toward overcoming motion sickness.
