BRD Clinic
Only people currently living in Korea with their own Korean 010 mobile number can apply. Overseas residents are not eligible.

What is the difference between over-the-counter diet supplements, like diet probiotics, and weight loss programs at a Korean medicine clinic?

While supplements provide general support for gut health and weight management, they are like 'ready-to-wear' clothing—one size fits all. In contrast, Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) offers 'custom-tailored' prescriptions based on a diagnostic evaluation of your unique constitution, identifying specific causes of weight gain such as blood stasis (Eohyeol) to optimize your metabolism.

Many people start with popular supplements because they are accessible, but since every individual's body reacts differently, a general supplement may not address the root cause of weight gain. Probiotics are excellent helpers for maintaining a healthy gut environment, but they cannot treat the underlying physiological imbalances that hinder weight loss. In Traditional Korean Medicine, we don't simply prescribe 'eating less and moving more.' Instead, we analyze why your body is retaining weight. For instance, some patients suffer from severe edema due to Blood Stasis (瘀血, Eohyeol)—a condition where blood flow is congested. Others may have a sluggish metabolism caused by Phlegm-Fluid (痰飮, Dameum), which is the accumulation of metabolic waste. Furthermore, those with Spleen Deficiency (脾虛, Biheo) have weakened digestive functions; for them, extreme fasting can lead to a loss of vital energy and ironically make the body more prone to gaining weight. If supplements are for 'general health maintenance,' a TKM prescription is a process of 'repairing the broken parts of your internal system.' By identifying and clearing the specific blockages in your metabolism, the efficiency of weight management increases significantly. If you are curious about your current constitutional state, we invite you to visit us for a personalized consultation.

Meet the clinician

Dr. Yeonseung Choe

Dr. Yeonseung ChoeChief Director

View clinician profile

Clinician review

Page summary and review information

Page summary

What is the difference between over-the-counter…. While supplements provide general support for gut health and weight management, they are like 'ready-to-wear'

A reviewed summary isn't ready yet, so the page description or a general note is shown instead.

The clinic is outside telephone hours

You can leave your inquiry now.

Leave an inquiry Call anyway