Modern medicine explains the deficiency pattern of qi and blood in Donguibogam as a complex physiological imbalance created by stress and lifestyle habits. Ceaseless work and emotional exhaustion excessively activate our brain's stress response system, namely the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Initially, stress hormones such as cortisol are secreted to respond to crises, but when chronically activated, the HPA axis becomes exhausted and falls into a state of dysfunction. This can be viewed as one of the neuroscientific mechanisms behind what we commonly call burnout.
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation goes beyond mere fatigue, inducing changes in neurotransmitters. As the secretion of neurotransmitters related to happy hormones like serotonin and dopamine decreases, symptoms such as lethargy, reduced motivation, and impaired concentration emerge. At the same time, the autonomic nervous system balance collapses, leading to excessive sympathetic nerve hyperactivity and diminished parasympathetic nerve activity. The heart pounds, indigestion develops, and above all, sleep does not come easily at night, making deep, restorative sleep difficult to achieve. When sleep quality drops, fatigue accumulates further, leading back into a vicious cycle of headaches.
Chronic stress and fatigue also induce muscle tension, exacerbating tension headaches. In particular, as the muscles around the neck and shoulders stiffen, blood circulation is hindered, and pain is triggered by compressing the nerves around the scalp and head. Additionally, mitochondrial dysfunction, the energy powerhouse of our body, significantly contributes to chronic fatigue. As the production of adenosine triphosphate, the intracellular energy source, decreases, the entire body becomes lethargic, and one may even experience brain fog due to reduced brain function. The unsmooth circulation of qi described in Donguibogam is closely linked to cellular energy metabolism issues, neurotransmitter imbalances, and HPA axis dysfunction as explained in modern medicine. Because our mind and body are intricately connected in this way, a problem in one area threatens overall health.
