Q. How does a weight loss treatment at a Korean medicine clinic work?

At your first visit, we spend 30 to 60 minutes on a thorough consultation. We ask when the weight gain began, what previous diets you tried and their side effects, as well as your eating patterns, sleep duration, and stress levels. Then the Korean medicine doctor takes your wrist pulse (maekjin) and palpates your abdomen (bokjin) to assess the flow of qi (vital energy) and blood in the body. For example, if you have poor digestion, bloating, and morning facial puffiness, we classify this as spleen deficiency (biheo), where the spleen’s function is weak, leading to poor water metabolism and a tendency to accumulate fat. In such cases, we prescribe herbs that tonify the spleen and dispel dampness (seup), and may apply acupuncture to the ears or abdomen to regulate appetite. Conversely, if you have high stress and insomnia resulting in adrenal fatigue, we view it as liver depression (ganul, where liver qi is stagnant) and focus on soothing the liver and calming the nerves. All prescriptions are personalized; we never promise quick fixes like 'lose weight with one dose' or guarantee a specific number of kilograms. That’s because the body needs time to change, and herbs alone aren’t enough—lifestyle correction must accompany treatment. Having personally tried crash dieting in the past with poor results, I learned that the real goal is to strengthen the body’s ability to restore itself. So we typically ask you to visit every one to two weeks, adjust the herb formula or dosage based on progress, and share dietary and exercise tips along the way.