Postherpetic Neuralgia

Psychosocial stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to sustained cortisol secretion. This, along with immunosuppression, weakens the descending inhibitory pathway (serotonin/norepinephrine system), which is the pain control center. In patients with PHN who have undergone central sensitization, stress further lowers the pain threshold, causing them to experience more intense pain from the same stimulus. Studies have shown that higher levels of depression and anxiety in PHN patients are associated with more severe pain intensity and reduced quality of life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) demonstrate complementary effects in the management of PHN pain. In Korean medicine, stress is described as a state where the flow of liver energy is blocked; when liver energy is blocked, the flow of qi and blood in the meridians becomes stagnant, exacerbating pain in neuralgia areas where blood stasis has already taken root. The liver is the organ most closely connected to the autonomic nervous system; as emotional tension recurs, stagnation in the liver meridian deepens, accelerating its chronicity. Taking this into account, Dongjedang utilizes acupoints that promote the circulation of liver qi during acupuncture treatment, and addresses the internal causes of pain aggravation by resolving stagnation with constitution-tailored herbal medicine that promotes mental and physical stability.