[Health Tip] Hwabyeong is a Treatable 'Illness'... Self-Meditation Helps

Illustration by O Seongsu

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Hwabyeong is often simply perceived as an emotion, but it is a 'disorder' in which accumulated anger and feelings of injustice manifest as physical symptoms such as chest tightness, insomnia, and headaches. Therefore, if Hwabyeong is not treated, abnormalities in the autonomic nervous system can occur, potentially leading to chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.

It is important to recognize that Hwabyeong requires treatment and is a treatable condition. Treatment for Hwabyeong begins with the individual's choice to live a healthy and happy life. To do this, it is necessary to objectively understand the reasons why Hwabyeong developed and how to view it in one's life.

Patients with Hwabyeong are often trapped in the perception of "I am a wronged victim." Physically, they complain of chest tightness, a sensation of heat, and a feeling as if a lump is stuck in the throat or solar plexus. They may experience headaches and dizziness, and psychologically, they harbor feelings of injustice and anger. They may also have fearful thoughts, feel life is meaningless or depressing, and often sigh.

Professor Cho Sung-hoon of the Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry at Kyung Hee University Oriental Medical Hospital said, "Most Hwabyeong patients complain of insomnia, but when Hwabyeong is treated, the autonomic nervous system balances, leading to a sense of stable sleep." He added, "Through pulse diagnosis, we can observe that the tense pulse before treatment relaxes and changes to a softer pulse."

Oriental medicine treatment for Hwabyeong involves counseling, psychotherapy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and meditation therapy. Acupuncture is applied to the hands, feet, and head to induce overall qi circulation and provide psychological stability. Mainly, pharmacopuncture that cools heat and stabilizes the mind and body is used. Herbal medicine also involves taking drugs that promote blood circulation and qi flow. Additionally, through meditation and counseling therapy, anxiety and depression are reduced, helping patients break free from feelings of unjust victimization and focus on restoring their confidence.

Professor Cho introduced three stages of meditation that can be tried at home. The first stage is focusing on one’s own breathing by lying down or sitting in the most comfortable position in a quiet place to feel one’s vitality through breathing. The second stage involves relaxing the body and muscles by releasing tension through natural and regular breathing. The third stage is concentrating on breathing while letting go of distracting thoughts in the mind. Professor Cho emphasized, "What you should remember in meditation is not to worry about techniques like abdominal breathing or diaphragmatic breathing, but to breathe in the way that feels most comfortable to you."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.