Reviewed by최연승대표원장
What do I need to prepare for a non-face-to-face Korean medicine diet prescription in Pyeongtaek?
You need four things: 1) ID verification (submit ID or real-time video call); 2) health info (medications, past history, recent test results — especially any previous use of Western diet drugs like Wegovy or Saxenda); 3) a lifestyle checklist (record diet, sleep, stress, exercise for about 3 days); 4) clear photos of your face and tongue taken in good daytime lighting for remote pattern identification.
Some people think non-face-to-face consultation just means 'send me the herbs,' but I thought that too at first. However, after experiencing it, I realized that more thorough preparation by the patient actually leads to more accurate pattern identification (辨證). The most important step is identity verification: under medical law, telemedicine is only allowed for patients who have had at least one in-person visit or are returning patients. If you are a first-time patient, you must have a real-time video consultation along with your ID to ensure safe medication delivery. Second, health information is key — especially if you have used Western diet drugs like GLP-1 agonists (Wegovy, Saxenda). Their effect on intestinal function and phlegm-fluid (痰飮) formation can predispose you to spleen deficiency (脾虛) or dampness-phlegm (濕痰) patterns, which changes the prescription direction. Lifestyle records are surprisingly helpful: how you eat, sleep, and handle stress determines more than half the pattern diagnosis. For example, frequent late-night eating or a carbohydrate-heavy diet suggests spleen deficiency with dampness, while irregular sleep raises the possibility of liver qi stagnation (肝氣鬱結). Finally, face and tongue photos are essential for remote tongue diagnosis (舌診) and facial complexion assessment. A tooth-marked tongue (齒痕) indicates spleen deficiency; a thick, greasy coating (舌苔) suggests phlegm-fluid accumulation. Although not as precise as in-person exams, the more data you provide, the less guesswork is involved. With these four items prepared, you can receive the same level of pattern identification and prescription as our main Seoul clinic even while you're in Pyeongtaek. After prescribing, the herbal medicine will be safely shipped to you, and you can always call or text if you have questions during treatment.