The Autumn That Grasps the Belly

The appetite that surges in autumn often leads to binge eating (폭식) and excessive drinking (폭음). Binge eating and excessive drinking can trigger acute gastritis (급성 위염), which is sometimes referred to as 상식증(常食症, Ailment from constant/excessive eating) & 주상증 (酒傷症, Ailment from alcohol damage).

상식증 (常食症) & 주상증 (酒傷症): These are older, traditional Korean/East Asian medical terms used to describe stomach ailments.

In addition to excessive drinking and binge eating, acute gastritis can also be triggered by poor dental health, which prevents thorough chewing of food, by consuming too much very hot or very cold food, or by eating spoiled or allergenic food.

Furthermore, it can be caused by irritation from alcohol, drug stimuli, the effects of febrile diseases(illnesses causing fever), and can even occur from swallowing mucus (phlegm/snot).

Generally, there is a loss of appetite, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Discomfort and pain in the upper abdomen (epigastrium) are common, followed by fever, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. A thick, white coating (white fur)develops on the tongue, and the whole body feels languid or lethargic.

In cases of Jusangjeung (gastritis caused by alcohol), vomiting is severe, and the person may vomit not only alcohol and food contents but also gastric acid.

When the condition is caused by an allergic reaction to foods like milk, eggs, or fish/meat, symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and the appearance of hives (urticaria).

If the gastritis is caused by drug irritation or if the symptoms become severe, blood may be mixed in with the vomit or stool during diarrhea.

In such cases, the usual course is to fast for about a day to allow the stomach to rest. One should drink moderate amounts of warm barley tea and apply warm compresses to the abdomen. Soaking the hands and feet in hot water is also recommended to promote circulation.

As symptoms improve, consume sweet rice porridge (찹쌀미음, easily digestible porridge) or thin soup (or a broth). Following that, the stomach should be soothed with bland foods such as a smooth soup or gruel made by boiling and mashing potatoes and vegetables, plain porridge (죽,Gruel), white fish, and tofu.

In urgent situations, one can grate a radish, squeeze out the juice, and drink one cup after each meal. Radishes (무) are mostly water and contain enzymes such as diastase (A well-known starch-digesting enzyme), glycoamylase (글리코타제), and galactase (가락타제, Enzymes that aid in breaking down complex sugars), which act as digestive aids.

The compound called allylisothiocyanate (아린), which gives radish its pungent and slightly bitter taste, yields mustard oil (개자유, A volatile oil derived from the pungent compounds), which serves to enhance the appetite. Adding it to fish or meat dishes thus promotes digestion. This is the reason why radish is often served alongside raw fish (sashimi/회).

When suffering from indigestion after eating flour-based foods like noodles or rice cakes (떡), drinking raw radish juice can also act as a digestive medicine.

People often ask if eating radish (무) while taking traditional herbal medicine will turn their hair white. It is commonly said that consuming radish along with Rehmannia root (숙지황, 熟地黃, Shú dì huáng)—which is frequently used in tonics for its significant blood-nourishing properties (보혈 작용)—will cause the hair to turn gray.

However, there is no correlation whatsoever. There is no documented basis for this claim in medical literature. Since the two substances are considered to be in an antagonistic relationship (complementary opposition), the only effect is a reduction in the efficacy of the medicine.

Plum tea (매실차) is beneficial for acute gastritis. A remedy called Omae (오매)—made by peeling unripe plums and smoking them over a fire—can be boiled, mixed with honey, and consumed warm to soothe severe gastrointestinal distress (known as tosagwaklan or cholera-like symptoms of simultaneous vomiting and diarrhea).

Omae works to stop diarrhea and vomiting and also has effects such as eliminating roundworms, reducing fever, and suppressing coughs. It can also stabilize the stomach if taken directly or consumed as a tea when experiencing motion sickness.

The organic acids that give plums their sour taste, such as tartaric acid (주석산), citric acid (구연산), and malic acid (사과산), have antibacterial, preservative, antiseptic, and analgesic (pain-relieving) effects. These properties help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria in the stomach and intestines, alleviate pain, and aid digestion. If you suspect you have consumed something slightly spoiled, eating dried plums can help prevent food poisoning.

For abdominal pain and diarrhea caused by excessive drinking and binge eating, plum pulp extract (매육액기스) is beneficial.

To prepare it, thoroughly wash unripe green plums, remove the pits, grind the plums, and then squeeze the pulp through a cloth to extract the juice. Simmer this juice over low heat. After stirring well for about two hours, the liquid will turn brown, become bubbly, and reduce into a thick, viscous extract.

Once cooled, store this extract in a sterilized bottle. To consume, dissolve one spoonful in hot water and take it three times a day.

When suffering from indigestion and upset stomach after eating a lot of meat, consuming Hawthorn (아가위), which often grows wild in the mountains, provides quick relief.

It promotes the secretion of gastric juices, which helps alleviate indigestion caused by overeating and symptoms like severe abdominal bloating and gas. Since Hawthorn contains fat-breaking enzymes, it also stimulates fat digestion.

It can be consumed raw or prepared as a tea by boiling it.

This Autumn That Clutches the Belly need not be a season of distress; by exercising moderation and turning to the wisdom of simple, natural remedies like plum and hawthorn, we can ensure that our digestion remains as peaceful and bountiful as the season itself.

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