Dear patients, the Donguibogam views our bodies with a warm and observant perspective. When addressing symptoms like diarrhea—especially cases resembling irritable bowel syndrome that worsen under stress—it frequently notes that the spleen and stomach are deficient. Here, the spleen and stomach refer to more than individual digestive organs; they represent the central system governing digestion, absorption, and overall vitality, much like an energy plant supplying nutrition throughout the body.
When this center weakens, the body becomes vulnerable to minor changes. It easily succumbs to wind-cold from cold food or air conditioning, while incompletely digested, damp waste accumulates and irritates the intestines, much like an unstable dam giving way under light rain.
Furthermore, the Donguibogam identifies emotional depression as another primary cause of diarrhea. When emotions such as anger, sorrow, and persistent worry stagnate internally, they disrupt the normal movement of the five viscera and six bowels, particularly the digestive functions of the spleen and stomach. When liver qi stagnates, it obstructs the harmonious flow of the spleen and stomach, preventing proper processing of food and forcing it downward in an urgent manner. This mechanism is described as liver qi invading spleen, showing how emotional stress directly impacts the gut.
In this view, the Donguibogam illustrates that diarrhea arises from the combined interactions of the body, mind, and external environment. Rather than focusing solely on stopping the symptom, it seeks the root cause by asking what emotional states and daily habits are placing a burden on the digestive tract. The goal is not merely finding medicine to suppress diarrhea, but cultivating internal conditions that restore gut comfort.
