Q. I'm managing my diet by replacing meals with diet coffee or low-calorie drinks. How does your clinic approach weight loss in this case?

I have personally experienced the struggle of trying to lose weight through fasting or substitute foods out of sheer ambition. I know that feeling well—where the weight seems to drop at first, but you eventually feel dizzy and completely exhausted. Having gone through those trials and errors myself, I truly empathize with your situation. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), we place more importance on 'how the body digests and excretes' than simply 'what is consumed.' Our approach generally follows these stages: 1. Assessing Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo, 脾虛): When the Spleen function is weak, nutrient absorption fails and metabolic waste accumulates. We first restore digestive function to 'flip the switch' on your metabolism. 2. Clearing Phlegm-Fluid (Dam-eum, 痰飮): We remove abnormal fluid accumulations and metabolic waste known as Dam-eum. This process resolves stagnation and reduces edema (swelling). 3. Resolving Blood Stasis (Eo-hyeol, 瘀血): This stage involves dispersing turbid blood and blood clots. Improving blood circulation is key to transforming the body into one that efficiently burns body fat. 4. Appetite Control and Maintenance: Once the previous stages are addressed, 'false hunger' diminishes, and you will find it easier to manage cravings without forced willpower. From here, we help you establish sustainable, healthy eating habits. Ultimately, the core objective is restoring your body's internal balance. While low-calorie drinks may provide temporary help, combining them with treatment that enhances your fundamental metabolic capacity is a far more comfortable and effective path to health.