Damjeok-byeong Herbal Medicine “My Solar Plexus Feels Tight and Stifled” | Incheon 40s Damjeok-byeong
“My Solar Plexus Feels Tight and Stifled” | Damjeok-byeong in a 40s Man
Many people I meet in the clinic complain of this stifled feeling.
They say the solar plexus area is always heavy, they are even more in pain after meals because of bloating, and sometimes they even feel pain as if something is stuck.
There are also not a few people who are further frustrated by the results that medicine only works for a moment or there is no special abnormality in the gastroscopy. Were you diagnosed with ’functional dyspepsia’ but still uncomfortable? Are you wondering if this chronic gastrointestinal problem might be ’Damjeok-byeong’?
I’m going to share my honest perspective on the essence of ’Damjeok-byeong’ and the path of recovery that I have steadily met and interpreted in clinical practice.
Damjeok-byeong, It’s Not Just a Simple Indigestion: Complex Signals Sent by the Body
It’s hard to see Damjeok-byeong as just a problem of the stomach alone.
Many people look for antacids or digestive aids first if they have indigestion, but Damjeok-byeong is seen as occurring as waste products called ’Damp-phlegm’ accumulated outside the stomach wall harden.
This is like a sticky film is surrounding the stomach so the stomach cannot function properly.
\n\n| \n Kim Su-cheol (pseudonym, 40s man) whom I met in the clinic said, “My solar plexus is always stifled as if a stone is embedded, and my stomach swells like a balloon because of gas. I burp frequently but it’s not refreshing, and in the morning, my stomach is so nauseous that I often can’t eat at all.” Park Mi-young (pseudonym, 30s woman) added, “I have indigestion no matter what I eat, so my weight keeps dropping, and I’m always tired and my head is not clear. It feels like my whole body hurts.” Like this, Damjeok-byeong often accompanies systemic symptoms such as chronic fatigue, headache, and shoulder stiffness in addition to digestive symptoms. \n |
After all, Damjeok-byeong is a complex signal appearing as entire body circulation and function degradation are concentrated in the stomach.
The True Cause of Damjeok-byeong: Imbalance of Zang-Fu Function and Circulation Stagnation
In Korean medicine, the fundamental cause of Damjeok-byeong is found in the imbalance of Zang-Fu function and circulation stagnation.
Particularly, it is seen that the weakening of Spleen and Stomach closely related to digestive function, and Liver-Qi stagnation due to stress, etc. act complexly so Damp-phlegm is created and accumulated.
\n\n| \n Damjeok-byeong occurs according to several core principles hani-medically. First, when Spleen and Stomach function in charge of digestion and absorption weakens, food is not properly digested in the body and moist and turbid waste products called Damp-phlegm start to be created. Here, if excessive stress or irregular life is added, Liver-Qi stagnation phenomenon occurs, and this further hinders digestive movement, making it easy for Damp-phlegm to accumulate in the body. When Damp-phlegm created like this sticks to the outer stomach wall and hardens, it inhibits stomach motility and induces inflammation, which is called ’Damjeok’. This Damjeok does not stay only in the stomach but spreads to surrounding organs and the entire body, inducing various systemic symptoms such as headache, dizziness, insomnia, skin trouble, and chronic pain, and this affects the entire body like a domino. \n |
Like this, Damjeok-byeong doesn’t stop at a problem of the stomach wall but reflects abnormality across the body’s metabolic system and detoxification function.
I think understanding these complex principles is the first step of Damjeok-byeong treatment.
\"Might I Also Have Damjeok-byeong?\" – Clues for Hani-Medical Diagnosis and Treatment
Then how can you know if your symptoms are related to Damjeok-byeong?
When I meet patients in the clinic, I look at digestive symptoms as well as systemic symptoms, lifestyle habits, stress levels, etc. widely through consultation.
In addition, I check for presence and degree of Damjeok through abdominal examination to confirm pressure points around the solar plexus or abdomen, hardened parts, etc.
\n\n| \n Kim Min-jun (pseudonym, 40s man) suffered from solar plexus pain and abdominal bloating for several years. At first, he thought it was simply nervous gastritis and took tranquilizers, but symptoms did not improve. During abdominal examination, hard and solid pressure pain was confirmed in the solar plexus and right abdomen, and thick white coat was also stuck on the tongue state. I comprehensively diagnosed Damjeok-byeong by synthesizing Min-jun’s constitution and symptom pattern, and prescribed herbal medicine that strengthens Spleen and Stomach function and removes Damp-phlegm. After receiving treatment steadily for 3 months, Min-jun said with a bright smile, “I was able to fall asleep comfortably without solar plexus pain for the first time in a long time, and bloating after meals almost disappeared. Since morning stomach nausea also disappeared, my condition really improved.” It was a look that he found peace of mind as he came to understand why Damjeok-byeong occurred and how to manage it beyond simply symptoms being improved. \n |
Damjeok-byeong, a Journey of Recovery Listening to the Body’s Voice
Damjeok-byeong is a complex problem that should be approached from a different perspective than commonly experienced indigestion or chronic gastritis. I believe Damjeok-byeong treatment is not simply suppressing uncomfortable symptoms but a process of creating an environment where one can recover by oneself. Herbal medicine treatment can be an important tool helping this fundamental improvement. However, the core of any treatment lies in the will of the patient themself to understand their own body and lead a healthy life through lifestyle improvement. If now, your body is screaming with stifled feeling and pain, do not ignore that voice. Even if it’s not me, please be sure to meet a medical team that can closely look at the entire body and be a true companion in your recovery journey. We no longer have to suffer alone.
