I keep eating whenever I feel stressed. How can I solve this?
You need to resolve the state of Liver Qi Stagnation (Gan-gi-ul-gyeol), which triggers psychological hunger, to restore your ability to regulate appetite.
Craving food when stressed is not a matter of willpower. Many of us experience a strong urge for sugar or snacks when under pressure. In Traditional Korean Medicine, this is attributed to Liver Qi Stagnation (肝氣鬱結), a state where the body's vital energy fails to flow smoothly and becomes congested.
When energy flow is blocked, the brain perceives this as a 'deficiency,' leading to a constant search for food. This 'false hunger' is often exacerbated when accompanied by Spleen Deficiency (脾虛), which impairs digestive function and metabolic balance.
- Stress $\rightarrow$ Liver Qi stagnation $\rightarrow$ Autonomic nerve imbalance
- Psychological anxiety $\rightarrow$ Emergence of false hunger $\rightarrow$ Overeating and binge eating
- Decreased digestive efficiency $\rightarrow$ Formation of Phlegm Accumulation (痰積) $\rightarrow$ Lowered metabolism and weight gain
💡 Treatment Goal
The goal is to soothe the Liver and resolve stagnation (So-gan-hae-ul) while strengthening the Spleen and Stomach functions. This improves your constitution so that your body responds to actual physical hunger rather than psychological triggers.
Clinician review