Now, let us examine our body's complex and remarkable systems through the lens of modern science. How can the damage to the heart and spleen mentioned in the Donguibogam be interpreted today? It can be explained through sympathetic nervous system hyperactivation and the exhaustion of melanocytes.
When we experience stress, our body enters a combat stance. The emergency alarm system known as the sympathetic nerve activates: the heart pounds, blood pressure rises, and muscles tense as our body prepares to fight or flee from the stressor. The problem arises when this state becomes chronic. Sustained tension eventually affects the melanocytes located near the hair follicle stem cells.
Recent studies show that extreme stress excessively accelerates the secretion of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. This norepinephrine damages the melanocytes near the hair follicle stem cells or drastically lowers their regenerative capacity. Melanocytes produce melanin, which determines hair color; when these cells vanish or lose function, the hair no longer receives pigment and can only turn white. It is just like an ink-making machine breaking down in a factory, resulting in only white paper coming out.
Additionally, stress increases oxidative stress in our body. Oxidative stress refers to a state where cell-damaging reactive oxygen species (free radicals) become excessively abundant. These reactive oxygen species (free radicals) directly attack melanocytes and damage cellular DNA, hindering melanin production. The concept in the Donguibogam of 'heat surging upward and damaging the blood' connects modernly to cellular damage caused by such inflammatory responses and oxidative stress.
Furthermore, spleen hypofunction can be viewed as modern digestive system dysfunction and decreased nutrient absorption. Stress impairs stomach function and easily causes indigestion or gut health issues, interfering with the absorption of essential nutrients for hair growth like protein, vitamins, and minerals. Ultimately, adequate nutrients fail to reach the hair roots, hindering hair growth or preventing melanocytes from functioning properly, creating a vicious cycle of increasing gray hair.
In this way, stress exerts broad impacts across our body's nervous system, endocrine system, and down to the cellular level to induce gray hair. Therefore, please remember that the gray hair appearing on your head is not just a cosmetic change, but a clear scientific signal crying out, 'My body and mind are struggling, please take a rest.'
