Why do some people have a constitution that makes it exceptionally hard to lose weight, even when dieting?
This is due to differences in energy metabolism efficiency. When metabolic rates drop, waste accumulates and hinders fat burning. While Western medicine attributes this to a low basal metabolic rate, Traditional Korean Medicine views it as a blockage in the circulation of Qi and Blood, leading to internal waste buildup that cannot be resolved simply by eating less.
Many people try to lose weight through extreme fasting, only to find themselves feeling heavier, more bloated, and dizzy. This happens because the body is not malfunctioning, but rather reacting to an efficiency problem. When metabolism slows down, unused energy is not expelled and instead stagnates in the body.
In Traditional Korean Medicine, this stagnation is identified as 'Dameum' (痰飮), referring to abnormal fluid retention and metabolic waste. When this is combined with 'Eohyeol' (瘀血), or stagnant blood/blood stasis, the biological pathways required for fat burning become obstructed.
This process is particularly challenging for those with 'Bi-heo' (脾虛), a deficiency in Spleen function. In this state, the body fails to absorb nutrients efficiently while simultaneously producing more waste. Because the body perceives this as an emergency state, it clings to fat stores even during calorie restriction.
Therefore, the solution is not simply to starve, but to first clear these blocked pathways. It is essential to identify where your metabolic 'switch' has been turned off and reactivate it. Only by restoring systemic circulation can you achieve natural weight loss without the agony of forced deprivation.
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