Q. I keep binge eating whenever I'm stressed. How can I fix this?
The key is resolving Gan-gi-ul-gyeol (Liver Qi Stagnation) to manage psychological hunger. You must unblock the flow of energy to eliminate 'false hunger.'
📝 Detailed Answer
Sudden cravings when you are emotionally distressed are not a matter of willpower. In Traditional Korean Medicine, this is viewed as Gan-gi-ul-gyeol (Liver Qi Stagnation), a state where the energy of the Liver becomes congested and fails to circulate smoothly.
When energy is blocked, the body seeks strong stimuli—such as food—to resolve the tension. This is not true physiological hunger, but rather 'false hunger', an attempt to fill an emotional void with food. Simply trying to suppress this urge often leads to more severe binge episodes later on.
💡 Treatment Goals
The goal is to release stagnant energy and normalize digestive functions to reduce compulsive cravings for food.
- Qi Circulation: Unblocking stagnant energy to alleviate psychological anxiety and irritability.
- Improving Spleen Deficiency (Pi-heo): When Spleen function is weak, metabolic capacity drops, making false hunger occur more frequently.
- Appetite Regulation: Addressing hormonal imbalances to physically calm excessive cravings.
Ultimately, the solution is not forced restraint, but addressing the constitutional cause of why your body craves food. Once you visit the clinic, we will first examine the current state of your energy flow.
Expert Verified
Dr. Yeonseung Choe
Chief Director
Last reviewed 2026.04.24