Looking into the wisdom of Donguibogam through the lens of modern medicine reveals the remarkable insight of our ancestors. Let us return to the topic of cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol is an essential fatty component in our body, but its balance and types are critical. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, commonly called bad cholesterol, is the main culprit that accumulates on the vascular wall and triggers arteriosclerosis, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or good cholesterol, transports cholesterol from the vascular wall to the liver to aid in its excretion. The problem lies in hypercholesterolemia, which develops when this balance is disrupted. When a blood test shows elevated levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides along with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, it is diagnosed as dyslipidemia.
Here, the role of the liver is paramount. The liver is the core organ that synthesizes and breaks down cholesterol, and excretes it outside the body through bile. The explanation in Donguibogam—that when the liver fails to properly execute its free coursing function, the unimpeded flow of qi is obstructed and dampness-phlegm accumulates—aligns precisely with modern medicine's understanding that metabolic dysfunction in the liver leads to elevated cholesterol levels and fatty liver. In particular, the Westernized diet and sedentary lifestyle of modern individuals place an excessive burden on the liver and promote fat accumulation, which can lead to a vicious cycle that further degrades the liver's ability to metabolize cholesterol.
When low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels rise due to liver hypofunction, this cholesterol causes damage to the vascular endothelial cell and triggers an inflammatory response. It is just like sticky waste adhering to a road and damaging it. Through the damaged vascular endothelial cell, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol infiltrates, and as our body's immune cell recognizes it as a foreign substance and attacks it, inflammation and oxidative stress accelerate. Eventually, an atheromatous plaque composed of cholesterol and inflammatory cells forms on the vascular wall, and as this plaque gradually expands, atherosclerosis progresses as the blood vessels narrow and stiffen. This becomes a direct cause of fatal cardiovascular disease such as myocardial infarction and stroke.
This is why we must look at liver health and overall metabolic function together, rather than merely focusing on the cholesterol number alone. Modern individuals frequently overburden the liver due to stress, overwork, irregular dietary habits, and lack of exercise. It is just as traffic jams are caused by a complex mix of heavy traffic, signaling errors, and road construction. When the liver becomes exhausted and its metabolic function falters, triglyceride levels rise alongside cholesterol, readily leading to dyslipidemia. Therefore, if you have been told that your cholesterol levels are high, rather than solely relying on medication, it is important to listen to the signals your liver is sending and review your lifestyle habits so that the liver can freely course and metabolize properly. Please remember that only when the liver is healthy can the blood become clear and the circulation of the entire body remain comfortable.
