In Korean medicine, our body is not merely a water container. Donguibogam refers to moisture inside the body as body fluids, and viewed it as playing a crucial role in circulating qi and blood and moistening the five viscera and six bowels. Just like a river in a forest, when body fluids are abundant, trees gain vitality and the entire forest can remain lush. These body fluids fill every cell in the body with nutrients and energy, and also serve to cool down excess fire accumulating in the body. In the water section of Tangaek-pyeon (Chapter of Decoctions) in Donguibogam, emphasizing the importance of water, it states, 'Water is the envoy of all medicinal herbs, and because it greatly benefits all things, it can unblock meridians and harmonize qi and blood.' Rather than just water you drink when thirsty, it viewed water as a fundamental power that maintains the energy circulation and balance of our body.
Yet, what happens if these vital body fluids become deficient for any reason? Just as all living things lose vitality when a river dries up and a forest becomes parched, our body also loses energy and sags. Blood thickens, nutrients fail to circulate smoothly, and waste accumulating in the body is not smoothly excreted. Consequently, unnecessary fire rises in the body, and this fire disrupts nighttime sleep while making the chest feel stifled or inducing irritability during the day. In the end, as a state of yin deficiency develops, the body becomes parched and dry, leading to chronic fatigue and lethargy. The fogginess in the head, impaired concentration, general stiffness, and feeling exhausted for no apparent reason are all deeply related to this body fluid deficiency, namely, dehydration inside our body. It is not simply a matter of a single cup of water, but an issue on which the balance and vitality of our entire body depend. Keeping our body constantly moist so its inner river does not dry up is the first step toward health.
