Reviewed by최연승대표원장
Fasting and detoxing are very trendy these days; how is the detoxification diet at a Korean medicine clinic different?
While simple fasting can deplete your energy, TKM detoxification is a process of 'emptying and replenishing.' Depending on your constitution, we may focus on supplementing your energy while detoxing if your digestion is weak, or prioritize waste elimination if you experience severe bloating and heaviness. The key is assessing your metabolic capacity rather than blindly starving yourself.
Many people try extreme fasting, but this often leads to dizziness and lethargy because the body doesn't necessarily become healthier just by starving.
Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) detoxification is not about mere calorie restriction, but about clearing 'metabolic waste' from the body. In TKM, this refers to 'Dameum' (痰飮, phlegm-fluid retention) and 'Eohyeol' (瘀血, blood stasis)—stagnant waste products that, if left uncleared, hinder the absorption of nutrients and medicinal effects.
Therefore, we customize the approach based on your specific condition:
1. For those with 'Bi-heo' (脾虛, Spleen deficiency), characterized by poor digestion and chronic fatigue: We recommend a gentle emptying process that protects the digestive system rather than total fasting.
2. For those who feel excessively heavy and suffer from severe edema: We prescribe a cleanse-focused treatment to rapidly discharge stagnant fluids and metabolic waste.
Ultimately, our goal is to restore your body's innate 'power' to expel waste on its own. This ensures that when you return to a regular diet, you are less likely to experience the 'yo-yo effect' (weight regain). Rather than simple hunger, we focus on 'strategic detoxification' tailored to your body's needs.