Q. I'm an office worker and don't have time to manage my diet. Can I lose weight with just herbal medicine?

This is one of the most common questions I hear from office workers: 'Doctor, I really don't have time to manage my diet. Can I just take herbal medicine to lose weight?' I understand that feeling—I used to work in an office too. First, let me explain the benefits of herbal medicine. It can address spleen deficiency (biheo), which often causes excessive appetite or poor digestion; improve metabolic issues from blood stasis (eohyeol) or phlegm accumulation (dameum); and help balance the whole body, which reduces the risk of rebound weight gain after a diet. These are areas where herbal medicine excels. However, honestly, there are limitations. No matter how good the herbal medicine is, if your daily calorie intake exceeds your calorie expenditure, you will not lose weight. While herbal medicine can help regulate digestion and absorption, continued overeating can significantly diminish its effects. Moreover, relying solely on herbal medicine for weight loss usually takes longer, and results vary greatly depending on individual constitution (chejil). So the answer really depends on your situation. If dietary control is completely impossible, herbal medicine alone may still bring subtle changes, but for meaningful weight loss, I recommend at least avoiding late-night eating and reducing snacks. Think of herbal medicine as a support system, while your lifestyle choices set the direction.