Tired No Matter How Much You Rest? Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, When Your Body Calls for 'Forced Rest'

How does modern medicine explain the damage to spleen and stomach qi described in the Donguibogam? Chronic fatigue, which was once dismissed as malingering, is now recognized as a formal medical condition called chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis. It is not simply being tired; the systems across the entire body have broken down. Mitochondria function as the energy-producing factories of our body. Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome often show hypofunction of these mitochondria, which significantly lowers energy production efficiency. Much like an engine coated with grime, it cannot produce power properly no matter how much fuel you supply. Considering that the spleen and stomach in the Donguibogam are the organs that convert food into energy, fundamental issues in nutrient absorption and energy metabolism remain central concepts in modern science as well. Furthermore, emotional strain from joy, anger, grief, and pensiveness, or chronic stress, can be explained in modern medicine as dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Persistent stress disrupts the secretion of cortisol from the adrenal gland. Cortisol is overproduced initially and then becomes depleted, leading to chronic fatigue and decreased immunity. This complex disruption can cause sleep disturbances, mood swings, and even blood glucose regulation issues. Neuroinflammation is also critical. Chronic stress and inflammatory responses disrupt neurotransmitter balance in the brain, causing impaired concentration, memory impairment, low mood, and the phenomenon commonly known as brain fog. Even when you try to think, your processing speed slows down, making it difficult to reach clear decisions. This aligns directly with the Donguibogam observation that excessive pensiveness damages the spleen and stomach. Modern science demonstrates that expending excessive mental energy impairs brain function. Gut health is equally essential. Through the gut-brain axis, dysbiosis reduces digestion and absorption while generating inflammatory substances that contribute to systemic fatigue and brain hypofunction. Modern science continues to show that the spleen and stomach in the Donguibogam did not refer solely to the digestive organs, but represented a comprehensive concept encompassing systemic energy metabolism, immunity, and mental health. Understanding this intertwined physical and mental condition, which cannot be solved merely by resting, serves as the first step.