Q. I tend to binge eat due to stress. How can traditional Korean medicine help resolve this?

When binge urges are directly linked to stress, TKM finds the cause in the liver-spleen relationship. The liver regulates qi flow; continuous stress causes liver qi depression (肝氣鬱滯), blocking qi circulation and disturbing the spleen's transforming and transporting functions, leading to spleen deficiency (脾虛). A weak spleen impairs digestion and absorption, while anxiety increases, creating the illusion that eating will bring calm. This condition can also involve blood stasis (瘀血) or phlegm-fluid retention (痰飲), forming a cycle of digestive damage and emotional instability. Step 1: Record eating patterns—time and emotional state when appetite surges—to reveal unconscious habit loops. Step 2: Stabilize digestion first with herbal formulas like modified Samul-tang (四物湯 加減方) to supplement spleen deficiency, or modified Soyosan (逍遙散 合方) to regulate liver qi; prescriptions must be tailored to constitution and symptoms by a TKM doctor. Step 3: Manage the stress response itself through meditation, breathing exercises, or light walking—practice 'enduring in the moment,' even if only for 5 minutes at first. Step 4: Adopt lifestyle habits according to your constitution; habit improvement is a TKM strength but requires time, and a constitution diagnosis during a visit personalizes management.