Q. How is Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) weight loss different from general dieting, and which approach would be better for me?

Many people attempt to lose weight through sheer willpower and extreme calorie restriction, but this often leads to dizziness, fatigue, and eventually, a metabolic crash. In TKM, we recognize that weight gain is often linked to internal imbalances rather than just calorie intake. For instance, we address 'Dam-eum' (痰飮), which refers to the accumulation of metabolic waste and fluid stagnation. When fluid metabolism is impaired, you may feel that weight isn't dropping even with a restricted diet. Similarly, 'Eo-hyeol' (瘀血), or blood stasis, can cause heaviness and chronic swelling. Furthermore, if you suffer from 'Bi-heo' (脾虛), or deficiency of the Spleen/digestive function, aggressive fasting can be counterproductive, lowering your basal metabolic rate and making you more prone to gaining weight in the future. Rather than demanding absolute deprivation, TKM weight loss focuses on clearing stagnation, replenishing deficient energy, and optimizing your specific constitution. By treating the internal environment first, we help your body naturally regulate its weight while maintaining overall vitality.