Q. I can hardly exercise — can I still lose weight by just taking herbal medicine?

Honestly, sitting in the clinic all day, there are times when I myself feel too overwhelmed to exercise. I've also made the mistake of relying solely on exercise in the past, only to end up with knee problems. The greatest advantage of herbal medicine for weight loss is its ability to forcibly upgrade your metabolism. The herbs stimulate your body to consume more calories, creating a state similar to taking a light walk even while at rest. This is especially beneficial for those whose vital energy (gi-ryeok) is too depleted to even begin exercising — herbal medicine acts as a catalyst to get you started. However, there are clear practical limitations. If muscle mass decreases too much, your basal metabolic rate drops, potentially making you more prone to gaining weight after stopping the medicine. Additionally, relying on medicine alone without dietary adjustments can burden your digestive system or cause sleep disturbances. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this condition is understood as spleen deficiency (bi-heo) — a state where spleen function is weakened. When digestive and absorption capabilities are compromised, forcibly raising metabolism only exhausts the body. If there is significant phlegm-dampness (dam-eum) or blood stasis (eo-hyeol) — the body's waste byproducts — weight loss may slow considerably. In conclusion, I would say, 'It is possible, but the efficiency varies by situation.' You don't need to force yourself to go to the gym, but adding light stretching can be significantly more advantageous. The fastest and safest approach is to first assess the patient's current physical condition and energy level, then find a prescription that matches their specific constitution.