Reviewed by최연승대표원장
These days there are many non-face-to-face diet herbal prescriptions. How are they different from actually visiting a Korean medicine clinic?
Non-face-to-face prescriptions are certainly attractive as they save time and cost for busy people. However, in Korean medicine, the 'intuitive diagnosis' of examining the patient's complexion and taking the pulse is truly decisive. It's not just about cutting weight numbers, but finding the root cause of why weight is gained. Depending on your situation you can choose, but if you want to properly assess your body condition, I recommend coming in person.
| Category | Non-face-to-face prescription | In-person consultation (Baekrokdam) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Accessibility | Very convenient | Requires visit time |
| Diagnosis method | Mainly questionnaires/consultation | Comprehensive diagnosis including observation, pulse palpation, palpation, etc. |
| Customization | Mainly standardized prescriptions | Reflects constitution and real-time condition |
| Communication | Text/phone centered | Detailed consultation and body shape analysis |
| Follow-up | Self-management centered | Periodic condition checks and medication adjustment |
When I used to work as an employee, I often thought, 'Why can't I just conveniently receive the medicine?' The non-face-to-face system is honestly convenient. But from the perspective of a Korean medicine doctor, seeing someone through a screen and meeting face-to-face are really different. In Korean medicine, there is 'observation diagnosis (wangjin)'. It involves examining the complexion and tongue state, and it is the core of diagnosis. Whether the problem is phlegm-fluid retention (dameum) caused by accumulated waste in the body, or blood stasis (eohyeol) due to poor blood circulation, can only be seen by meeting in person and taking the pulse. Especially for a person with spleen deficiency (biheo) where digestive power is weak, using diet medications excessively will drain energy before reducing weight. If non-face-to-face prescriptions are ready-made clothes, then in-person consultation is a tailored suit adjusted to my body. It doesn't end with just suppressing appetite. By checking how my body's metabolism is functioning now and adding or removing herbs, side effects are reduced and the body does not collapse. Even if it's a bit inconvenient at first, I recommend coming in person once to properly draw your 'body map'. After that, continuing with non-face-to-face is much more efficient.