Q. If I take herbal medicine for weight loss, can I lose weight without changing my diet?

Yes, many people share this curiosity. I once thought, 'If I just take herbal medicine, it will be fine,' but after seeing patients directly, I realized that is not the case. First, herbal medicine can certainly aid weight loss. For example, in cases of spleen qi deficiency (脾虛, pí xū), where weak spleen function slows metabolism, herbal medicine can support digestion and absorption, raising basal metabolic rate. It may also help clear internal waste products like blood stasis (瘀血, yū xuè) and phlegm-fluid (痰飮, tán yǐn). Some patients even experience a natural reduction in appetite. However, there is a drawback: the 'calorie puzzle.' No matter how helpful the herbal medicine is, if daily caloric intake exceeds expenditure, weight loss is difficult. In particular, a high-calorie diet consisting of flour-based foods, sweets, and late-night snacks significantly diminishes the efficacy of herbal medicine. Additionally, individual responses vary by constitution; some lose weight relatively easily, while others must strictly combine dietary changes. In conclusion, the answer is 'it depends.' Rather than expecting dramatic results from herbal medicine alone, it is more realistic to view it as a 'tool' that assists metabolism and appetite control. At our Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic (백록담한의원), we provide personalized dietary guidance through consultations to match each patient's lifestyle. If you are curious, you are welcome to visit for a consultation.