It must be distressing to constantly deal with a bloated belly, gurgling and rumbling sounds, and even diarrhea. When explaining this kind of abdominal discomfort, the Donguibogam frequently refers to the concepts of dampness and qi stagnation.
Our body is like a small universe, where everything must flow in harmony. In particular, the spleen, the zang-fu organ responsible for digestion, is like a farmer who plows the field and sows seeds in our body. When this farmer is healthy, food is digested properly, necessary nutrients are delivered to every corner of the body, and unnecessary waste is cleanly removed.
However, what happens if this farmer is exhausted, or if excessive rain makes the field muddy and soggy? The Donguibogam describes this condition as an excess of dampness. When dampness accumulates heavily and stickily, it obstructs the circulation of our body's energy, which is qi. It is just like a car wheel getting stuck and spinning fruitlessly in muddy ground after rain. When qi fails to circulate properly and becomes stagnant, it turns into qi stagnation, creating blockages throughout the body. When this phenomenon occurs particularly in the digestive system, the abdomen feels bloated, fills with gas, and feels uncomfortable.
Furthermore, when dampness increases, the secretion of digestive juices slows down and intestinal movements also become sluggish, leaving food poorly digested and lingering in the intestine for a prolonged time. Microorganisms then ferment excessively, generating more gas and irritating the intestinal mucosa, which can trigger diarrhea. Experiencing abdominal pain or a heavy sensation is also often a symptom where this dampness and qi stagnation intertwine. It is a signal our body sends saying, 'Please look after me'. The Donguibogam views digestive symptoms as reflections of the internal and external environments as well as the inner state of the body, seeking to resolve them at their roots.
