Study for Correlation between Seven Emotion(七情) as an emotional stressor and Obesity

심인적(心因的) Stressor로서의 칠정(七情)과 비만(肥滿)과의 상관관계(相關關係)

Objective : In Western medicine, the cause of obesity include overeating, lack of exercise, genetic factor, endocrinal impediment and psychological factor. Since the society becomes more complexed and the tensions among social members gets intensified, psychological factor getting more important. In Oriental medicine, Seven Emotion(七情, in oriental medical term) as an emotional stressor was thought to be a factor of obesity. Therefore the purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between Seven Emotion and obesity in detail. Methods : overview the stress with the view of Oriental medicine and research the relationship between Seven Emotion as an emotional stressor and obesity. Results : 1. Seven Emotion can be understood as an emotional stress in Western medicine. If Seven Emotion is excessive, its extreme mental stimulation causes physical illness. 2. Having influence upon the function of internal organs, excessive Seven Emotion causes obesity. Since it hinders normal flow of Gangi(肝氣), Seven Emotion disturbs healthy function of Bi-Wi(脾胃) and normal fluctuation of Qi. Consequently, obesity is resulted from the accumulation of fat since normal metabolism of body is disrupted. 3. In Seven Emotion-Anger(怒), Joy(喜), Anxiety(憂), Thought(思), Sorrow(悲), Fear(恐), Surprise(驚)-give rise to Gan-bi-bul-wha(肝脾不和), Sim-hi-yang-huh(心脾兩虛), Bi-qi-huh(碑氣虛), Dam-sup-jeo-po(痰濕沮胞) and Wi-wha-sang-youm(胃火上炎) in type of symptom in obesity and therefore, cause obesity.