Hello. This is Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic.
There are stories we hear often in the consultation room. Today, we'd like to share one of them.
When we see patients, sometimes what troubles them more than the physical pain is a sense of 'injustice'.
"Doctor, my heart felt like it was going to burst and I couldn't breathe, so I went to the ER—but the ECG came back normal."
"I can't digest anything and keep losing weight, but the endoscopy was clean. Being treated like a hypochondriac is driving me crazy."
Many patients have been through brain MRIs, gastrointestinal endoscopies, and cardiac tests at university hospitals, only to hear "Everything looks fine. It's just stress. Try to relax." You're clearly suffering, yet there's no diagnosis—frustration turns into anxiety, and anxiety feeds back into physical symptoms, creating a vicious cycle.
Today, Dalimchae's column takes a deep look at autonomic nervous system dysfunction (sympathetic hyperactivity)—a 'functional illness' that modern medical imaging often fails to detect.
1. When Your Body's Brakes Fail: Sympathetic Hyperactivity
Our bodies have an 'autonomic nervous system' that sustains life without conscious effort. This system operates on two main axes:
- Sympathetic nervous system (Accelerator) — Puts the body into fight mode during emergencies: increased heart rate, muscle tension, suppressed digestion
- Parasympathetic nervous system (Brake) — Handles rest and recovery: relaxation, digestion, sleep
In a healthy person, these two systems balance like a seesaw. During the day, the sympathetic system keeps you alert; at night, the parasympathetic system takes over for sleep and digestion.
But prolonged stress, overwork, or major shocks (COVID infection, surgery, trauma) can cause the sympathetic switch to lock in the ON position. It's like a car with the accelerator floored and no brakes.
No matter how hard you try to rest, your body stays in 'combat mode'—heart racing, muscles stiffening, digestion shutting down. This is the true nature of autonomic dysfunction.
2. The 'Functional' Problem MRI Can't See
Many patients feel defeated hearing their results are normal. But this is actually expected. MRI, CT, and endoscopy examine whether an organ's 'structure' (shape) is damaged.
However, autonomic dysfunction is a problem of 'function' (operation), not structure. The wiring looks intact, but the current running through it is overloaded—something that doesn't show up on scans. This is why patients suffer while their test results come back clean.
3. Gut and Brain Are One
Another key aspect is the 'Gut-Brain Axis'. Over 90% of patients with autonomic dysfunction also experience digestive issues.
- Indigestion and bloating — Sympathetic overactivity cuts blood flow to the gut, shutting it down
- Irritable bowel syndrome (diarrhea/constipation) — Disrupted gut microbiome (dysbiosis) causes neurotransmitter imbalances (serotonin, etc.), increasing brain anxiety
A calm gut leads to a calm brain, and a stable brain allows the gut to function. This is why digestive pills or sedatives alone don't work. The brain, gut, and autonomic nervous system must be treated simultaneously for a fundamental solution.
4. Dalimchae's Philosophy: Recovery and Balance Over Suppression
Western medicine may prescribe nerve-blocking injections or sedatives for severe cases. While helpful in emergencies, the long-term goal should be building the body's own self-regulating power.
Dalimchae restores the balance that has been lost.
① Cooling the Overheated Engine (Cheong-Yeol)
For palpitations, facial flushing, and anxiety, we use herbal medicines that clear 'heart fire,' calming the overactive sympathetic system.
② Replenishing Depleted Energy (Bo-Eum)
We restore fluids and energy drained by prolonged tension. This activates the parasympathetic system, enabling deep sleep and gently releasing muscle tension.
③ Normalizing the Gut-Brain Axis
We restore motility to the stiffened digestive system, expelling 'damjeok' (accumulated waste). When the stomach feels comfortable, anxiety signals to the brain decrease, and the autonomic nervous system quickly stabilizes.
5. In Closing
Autonomic dysfunction is a lonely and exhausting battle to fight alone.
"This is not hypochondria. You are truly unwell." We want to say this to you first.
If you've been exhausted visiting hospital after hospital with unexplained symptoms, now is the time for treatment that looks at your body's overall flow and restores fundamental balance.
We listen carefully to each and every voice, conduct thorough pulse diagnosis, and help you reclaim the daily life you've lost.
Where life blooms—for herbal medicine, trust Dalimchae.
This article was compiled by Dalimchae's medical team based on questions frequently received in the consultation room.
Medical review | Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic, Incheon Branch, Dr. Min Ji-hong