How does modern medicine explain the discomfort of food damage and the spleen and stomach mentioned in Donguibogam? The wisdom of Donguibogam shares profound insights with modern science. Hypofunction of the spleen and stomach can be explained in modern medicine by diagnoses such as functional dyspepsia or irritable bowel syndrome. These conditions are characterized by abdominal distension, early satiety, bloating, and epigastric pain without any specific organic disorder.
Modern science explains digestion through the concept of the gut-brain axis, where the brain and gut communicate closely with each other. The observation in Donguibogam that worry and pensiveness injure the spleen illustrates the importance of this gut-brain axis. When the stress hormone cortisol is secreted, intestinal motility and peristalsis can slow down or become excessive, and the secretion of digestive enzymes may decrease. It is as if our body focuses its energy on survival rather than digestion during an emergency. Furthermore, the weakening of the spleen and stomach caused by cold-heat disharmony can be interpreted as an imbalance of digestive fluids, such as decreased gastric acid secretion, abnormal bile secretion, or a deficiency of pancreatic enzymes. Studies showing that cold foods reduce the activity of digestive enzymes and hinder blood circulation in the intestines, thereby lowering digestive function, also support this view.
Non-transformation of water and grain, where food is not digested properly and stagnates in the abdomen, can be linked to delayed gastric emptying or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. When delayed gastric emptying occurs, food remains in the stomach for an extended period, causing abdominal distension and fullness. In the case of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, bacteria abnormally proliferating in the small intestine ferment undigested carbohydrates, generating excessive gas. This gas is the primary cause of abdominal distension. In addition, irregular dietary habits or overeating place an excessive burden on digestive organs, disrupting the normal rhythm of intestinal peristalsis and potentially triggering inflammatory responses. Countless microorganisms, known as the microbiome, live in our gut, and when their balance is disrupted, it can lead not only to dyspepsia but also to decreased immunity. The deep insights of Donguibogam clearly explain these complex mechanisms of modern medicine. Abdominal discomfort is not simply a problem of the stomach alone, but a signal sent by our entire body and mind.
