How can Korean medicine help improve binge eating when I am stressed?
Stress-related binge eating should be assessed with emotions, sleep, meal intervals, and the binge pattern. Liver qi constraint and spleen qi deficiency are reference frameworks for describing an individual state, and needed counseling should be included.
Recording the emotions and circumstances before a binge, the amount and time eaten, and sleep and meal intervals can reveal recurring patterns. Avoid compensating by fasting or exercising excessively after a binge, as this can worsen the next episode.
When stress and tightness are prominent, the state may be viewed through liver qi constraint (肝鬱); when fatigue and poor digestion occur together, spleen qi deficiency (脾虛) may be considered. This is a clinical interpretation and does not establish the cause or replace medicine or counseling.
If binge eating recurs or is accompanied by vomiting, depression or anxiety, or disrupted sleep, seek assessment from a clinician and counseling professional. Herbal medicine or acupuncture can be discussed as an adjunct after reviewing medical history, medicines, and current risks.
Clinician review