Modern medicine explains irritable bowel syndrome as a dysfunction of the gut-brain axis. Because our brain and gut are closely connected like a direct line, psychological factors such as stress exert a direct effect on intestinal function. When stressed, the brain secretes stress hormones such as cortisol, and these hormones affect the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary functions of our body such as digestion and heartbeat, and when the balance between the parasympathetic nerve and the sympathetic nerve is disrupted, problems arise in intestinal motility.
For example, if the sympathetic nerve becomes excessively active, intestinal motility can become abnormally accelerated or slowed, causing diarrhea or constipation. In addition, stress can increase the permeability of the intestinal wall to trigger inflammatory responses, or disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome. When beneficial bacteria essential for gut health decrease and harmful bacteria increase, a vicious cycle of excessive gas production and aggravated abdominal pain repeats. Furthermore, people with irritable bowel syndrome often exhibit visceral hypersensitivity in the intestines. This is a phenomenon where the intestines react excessively and perceive pain even from subtle stimuli that others would not feel, because the signaling pathway between the brain and the gut is hyperactivated.
This modern medical understanding is remarkably similar to the Donguibogam concepts of liver qi stagnation and disharmony of the spleen and stomach. The view in Donguibogam that stress impedes the free coursing function of the liver shares the same context as the modern observation that stress disrupts autonomic nervous system balance. When the sympathetic nerve becomes overactive due to stress, our body enters a state of tension, leading to what Donguibogam describes as qi stagnation. Moreover, the interpretation that this imbalance manifests as dysfunction of the spleen and stomach—the digestive system—aligns with the digestive symptoms resulting from gut-brain axis dysfunction.
Acupuncture and acupressure are known to exert a positive influence on this gut-brain axis. Stimulating specific acupoints transmits signals to the brain via the vagus nerve, which can modulate stress hormone secretion or stabilize intestinal motility. Furthermore, acupoint stimulation promotes the secretion of pain-relieving substances such as endorphins and improves intestinal blood circulation, which may also aid in reducing inflammation. Beyond merely alleviating symptoms, one can expect holistic improvement extending to the nervous system, endocrine system, and the intestinal environment. Whenever a distressing moment arrives, consider awakening the quiet healing capacity within the body.
