Q. I keep binge eating whenever I'm stressed. How can I fix this?

Many people experience this cycle, and it is important to realize that simply 'trying harder' to resist is often ineffective because this is a physiological response to stress. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this phenomenon is viewed as a blockage in the flow of Qi and Blood or an imbalance of the internal organs. Specifically, when the Spleen function is weakened—a condition known as 'Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo, 脾虛)'—the body fails to absorb nutrients efficiently, leading the brain to trigger 'false hunger' and a constant craving for food. When this is combined with 'Qi Stagnation (Gi-che, 氣滯)' caused by stress, it often manifests as binge eating. Furthermore, the accumulation of 'Phlegm-Fluid (Dameum, 痰飮)' or 'Blood Stasis (Eo-hyeol, 瘀血)' slows down your overall metabolism. This makes your body feel heavy even after small meals, creating a vicious cycle of stress and overeating. In essence, your body's metabolic 'switch' has malfunctioned. The best approach is to accurately identify which part of your internal balance has collapsed. Rather than simply suppressing your appetite, you need treatment to circulate stagnant Qi and restore Spleen function to eliminate 'false hunger.' Instead of blaming yourself, we invite you to visit our clinic for a comprehensive evaluation of your current physical state.