Q. How does a Korean medicine diet prescription proceed? I'm planning to visit for the first time and I'm curious about the process.

At your first visit, we perform comprehensive assessments including pulse diagnosis, abdominal palpation, and tongue examination. The key is not just to look at weight but to understand why weight easily increases or resists loss from a functional perspective. For instance, if you have a large appetite but poor digestion and fatigue, this is often classified as spleen deficiency (bi xu)—the spleen's function weakens, failing to transform food into energy efficiently and instead storing it as fat. Conversely, if you feel heavy, have an oily face, and sticky stools, phlegm-fluid (dam eum) or dampness (shi) is likely the main cause. If there is severe menstrual pain or scattered body aches, we suspect blood stasis (eo hyeol)—impaired blood circulation. Based on the type, we adjust the prescription accordingly. For spleen deficiency, we use herbs that tonify the spleen (e.g., ginseng, atractylodes, poria). For phlegm-fluid, we use herbs that regulate qi and transform phlegm (e.g., pinellia, tangerine peel, atractylodes). Acupuncture focuses on the abdomen and stomach meridians to regulate appetite and boost metabolism. Lifestyle advice is also personalized: for spleen deficiency, we recommend warm congee and steamed dishes while avoiding cold and greasy foods; for phlegm-dampness, we suggest reducing salty and flour-based foods and increasing vegetables. Importantly, the diet is not about forced restriction but about helping the body regain its natural balance. Therefore, we aim for gradual improvement rather than rapid weight loss, adjusting herbal formulas and dosages as your condition changes, and providing guidance on exercise and sleep that fits your daily routine without undue strain. A direct consultation will allow for much more specific explanations.