Q. I keep binge eating when I'm stressed. What can I do?

Stress-induced binge eating in Traditional Korean Medicine often involves a combination of liver qi stagnation (ganyu, 肝鬱) and spleen deficiency (pixu, 脾虛). Liver qi stagnation occurs when the liver’s qi flow is blocked, leading to frustration and emotional dysregulation, while spleen deficiency weakens digestion and energy metabolism, causing cravings for sweets or carbs. For example, a soeumin (少陰人) constitution type, which tends toward spleen deficiency, may binge eat when stressed due to a feeling of emptiness, whereas a taeeumin (太陰人) type, prone to liver qi stagnation and phlegm accumulation, experiences severe bloating after bingeing. To address this: 1) Acknowledge the binge as a stress response rather than a failure. 2) Keep a constitution observation diary to identify triggers, food choices, and amounts. 3) Stabilize meal timing—especially never skip breakfast—and drink warm rice water or ginger tea before meals to support the spleen. 4) Visit a Korean medicine clinic to evaluate the degree of liver qi stagnation; herbal formulas like Soyosan (逍遙散) or ear acupuncture (ear needles) may be prescribed based on constitution. 5) Regular light exercise such as walking or stretching improves qi circulation and reduces binge impulses. These steps are not about quick weight loss but about restoring mind–body balance.