Reviewed by최연승대표원장
I live in Ulsan and want to try a non-face-to-face Korean medicine diet program. How does it work?
Non-face-to-face consultations are convenient regardless of time and place, but the accuracy of pattern identification (辨證) may decrease without direct pulse and abdominal diagnosis. It is generally recommended to visit in person initially and then transition to remote care once your condition is stable.
Yes, many people have been asking about this as non-face-to-face treatment becomes more available. I initially wondered whether telemedicine was appropriate for Korean medicine, but in practice, it has proven quite useful for those requiring consistent management. Let me explain the pros and cons. First, advantages: you save travel time, which is especially helpful for office workers or those living in remote areas. Second, herbal medicines can be prescribed and delivered by courier, so you do not need to visit a pharmacy. Third, periodic monitoring helps you focus on lifestyle corrections. However, there are clear drawbacks: the most important techniques in Korean medicine—pulse diagnosis (脈診) and abdominal diagnosis (腹診)—cannot be performed directly. When assessing constitutional factors such as spleen deficiency (脾虛), blood stasis (瘀血), or phlegm-fluid retention (痰飲), palpatory information is critical; without it, pattern identification may be incomplete. I particularly recommend an in-person visit for first-timers or those with digestive symptoms, menstrual irregularities, or complex conditions. In conclusion, if you have already been diagnosed and your constitution is well understood, non-face-to-face care can be effective for maintenance and monitoring. However, for initial consultations or if your condition is complicated, I strongly suggest coming in at least once for a proper pulse and abdominal exam. Through trial and error, I have developed criteria for which cases suit telemedicine and which require face-to-face visits. Please choose appropriately based on your situation.