Q. I've heard that perilla oil dieting is trendy these days. What is the perspective of a Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) clinic on this? I'm thinking about trying it myself.

I have also experienced the tendency to jump into trendy diets without much thought, and through that process of trial and error, I realized one thing: a method that does not suit your specific body constitution will eventually lead to side effects. From a TKM perspective, unsaturated fatty acids like those found in perilla oil can help alleviate inflammation. However, the problem arises for those with 'Bi-heo' (Spleen Deficiency), meaning their Spleen function is weak and digestive power is low. If someone in this state suddenly increases their intake of oily foods, it can lead to the accumulation of 'Dam-eum' (phlegm-fluid/metabolic waste), which can make the body feel heavy or cause dizziness. Therefore, I recommend the following stepped approach: First, assess your digestive strength by checking if you typically experience bloating after eating flour-based or oily foods. Next, through pulse diagnosis, we will examine your Qi and Blood status to see if there is any 'Eo-hyeol' (blood stasis) or toxins stagnating in the body. Based on this, we can determine an intake level of perilla oil that your digestive system can actually handle. Finally, we can use herbal medicine to improve metabolic efficiency and create an internal environment where fat is burned more effectively. Rather than blindly following what others call 'good,' it is priority to see if your organs are prepared to process these fats. That is the only way to achieve healthy weight management without the yo-yo effect.