Q. When I'm stressed, I tend to binge eat. How can I resolve this?

Stress-induced binge eating is not simply a matter of willpower. In Traditional Korean Medicine, stress blocks the Liver's Qi, leading to Liver Qi Stagnation (肝氣鬱結), which in turn weakens the Spleen and Stomach (脾胃) function. This results in Spleen Deficiency (脾虛), impairing the proper digestion and transport of food, leading to the formation of Phlegm-Fluid (痰飮) and creating a vicious cycle of accumulating stress. I know this well—I've often found myself unable to stop tearing open snack bags during late-night work. Let's go through a checklist: ✓ Record your emotional state just before binge eating—anger, anxiety, or loneliness are common triggers. ✓ Check your eating speed and environment; eating while standing or watching TV leads to overeating before the brain registers fullness. ✓ Assess whether you are sleep-deprived; lack of sleep disrupts appetite-regulating hormones, making binge eating more likely. ✓ Consider a TKM diagnosis to see if Liver Depression (肝鬱) or Spleen Deficiency (脾虛) is present. For Liver Depression, herbs that soothe the Liver (疏肝) may be used; for Spleen Deficiency, treatments to tonify the Spleen (補脾) can be considered. This process can be difficult to manage alone—don't hesitate to visit a Korean medicine clinic for consultation. Together, we can find a more sustainable approach than extreme dieting.