Q. What is the difference between a diet focused on chicken breast and egg salads versus a general diet involving fasting or exercise? Which approach does a Korean medicine clinic recommend?

Both methods have their own rationales, but from the perspective of Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), they share a common pitfall. A chicken breast and egg salad diet focuses on low calories and high protein, which effectively reduces weight in the short term. However, most salad ingredients have 'cold' properties (Han-ryang, 寒凉). An excessive lack of fats and carbohydrates can impair the 'transportation and transformation' (Yun-hwa) function of the Spleen. This state is called Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo, 脾虚). Since the Spleen governs digestion and fluid metabolism, its dysfunction slows the overall metabolic rate and allows moisture to accumulate as Phlegm-Dampness (Dam-eum, 痰飮). This accumulation of metabolic waste is the actual root cause of abdominal obesity, edema, and a feeling of heaviness in the body. General diets centered on fasting and exercise face similar issues. Prolonged fasting depletes Yin-Blood (Eum-hyeol, 陰血), leading to dry skin, constipation, and menstrual irregularities. Conversely, excessive exercise can exhaust the body's Vital Energy (Qi), leading to Qi Deficiency (Gi-heo, 氣虚), which results in low motivation and weakened immunity. Eventually, this leads to an inability to maintain exercise and a surge in appetite, causing the 'yo-yo' effect. Both approaches overlook the fundamental question: 'Why is my body predisposed to gain weight?' In TKM, we examine not only Spleen Deficiency and Phlegm-Dampness but also Blood Stasis (Eo-hyeol, 瘀血) and Liver Qi Stagnation (Gan-ul, 肝鬱) caused by stress. Depending on the individual, some may need warming herbs like Ginseng or Astragalus to support the Spleen, while others require formulas like I-jin-tang to resolve Phlegm. At Baekrokdam Clinic, instead of simply advising 'eat less and move more,' we identify the constitutional cause by analyzing the patient's pulse, tongue, and symptoms. We then combine herbal medicine with lifestyle corrections. For severe Spleen Deficiency, we use modified Bo-jung-ik-gi-tang (Tonic for Middle and Boosting Qi Decoction), and for excessive Dampness, we use Atractylodes (Chang-chul/Baek-chul) to regulate fluid metabolism. This allows the body to naturally restore its metabolic balance, leading to sustainable weight loss and a lower risk of recurrence.