Q. When stress builds up, I keep opening the fridge at night and binge eating. How can I control this habit?

In Traditional Korean Medicine, stress-related binge eating is seen as a combination of liver depression (ganyu) and spleen deficiency (pixu). Stress obstructs the smooth flow of liver qi (ganqi yujie), making impulse control difficult and triggering overwhelming appetite. At the same time, stress weakens the spleen’s function (pixu), so food is not properly digested and absorbed, easily accumulating as phlegm-fluid (tanyin) or blood stasis (yuxue). This creates a vicious cycle of binge eating → digestive upset → more stress. When I ask patients what they crave under stress, they often say sweets or greasy foods—temporarily comforting but actually further stagnating the liver and exhausting the spleen. The approach is phased. In weeks 1–2, we resolve liver stagnation using formulas like Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) or liver-clearing herbs, combined with acupuncture at points such as Taichong (LR3) and Hegu (LI4). Patients report that the binge urge itself lessens; they feel able to pause for a few seconds before opening the fridge. In weeks 3–4, we tonify the spleen with formulas like Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment Qi Decoction) or Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction). Digestion improves, post-binge bloating decreases, meal portions naturally shrink, and hunger becomes stable. Constipation or diarrhea also resolve. After 1–2 months of maintaining liver-spleen harmony (ganpi tongtiao), the patient’s response to stress changes—the equation "stress = fridge" is broken. They often say, 'I couldn't have resisted before.' Individual results vary, and lasting effects require lifestyle adjustments—regular meals, sleep, and light exercise. While specific weight-loss figures or comparisons with other treatments are legally restricted, TKM’s advantage is that it addresses the root cause, reducing the risk of rebound. An in-person consultation allows a tailored plan based on your constitution and stress patterns.