Q. What exactly is the difference between commercial diet plans or medications and weight loss treatments at a Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) clinic?

Many people assume that all weight loss boils down to 'eating less and moving more.' However, in Traditional Korean Medicine, we recognize that the causes of weight gain vary significantly from person to person. For instance, some patients suffer from 'Dameum' (phlegm-fluid retention), where poor circulation leads to the accumulation of metabolic waste. Others may experience heaviness due to 'Eohyeol' (blood stasis), or have 'Bi-heo' (Spleen deficiency), meaning their digestive and absorptive capacities are weakened. In the latter case, a rigid high-protein diet (like eating only chicken breast) can actually cause digestive distress rather than weight loss. Therefore, TKM begins with a comprehensive diagnosis of your current physical state. Rather than just forcibly suppressing hunger, we focus on replenishing deficient energy (Qi) and flushing out stagnant waste. Think of it as 'flipping the metabolic switch.' While conventional medications or extreme diets act like a 'forced stop' button, TKM herbal medicine acts as an 'efficiency' button, optimizing your body's systems. The core of TKM weight loss is progressing at a pace your body can handle while maintaining optimal health and restoring internal balance.