Q. What is the specific process when undergoing diet treatment at a Korean Medicine clinic?

In Korean Medicine, diet treatment differs from immediately receiving medication at a hospital. I always say, 'We don't go all out from the start,' and here's why. On the first visit, identifying the obesity type is key. We use questionnaires to check eating habits, sleep, and stress; we perform tongue diagnosis (舌診) and pulse diagnosis (脈診) to assess the spleen-stomach (脾胃) digestive function. Many patients who have failed multiple diets often have internal blood stasis (瘀血), which is blocked blood circulation that must be resolved for normal weight control. From the second visit, formal herbal prescriptions begin in three stages: [Weeks 1-2: Induction treatment] – we strengthen the spleen-stomach with a basic herbal decoction; weight doesn't drop drastically, but constipation relief and better sleep appear first. [Weeks 3-4: Body type customized treatment] – we add herbs to promote water metabolism (利水) or resolve blood stasis (e.g., safflower 紅花); noticeable weight loss occurs. [Weeks 5-8: Maintenance and lifestyle correction] – we adjust herbal dosage and combine dietary prescriptions; lifestyle habits must be corrected for sustainable results. Generally, patients notice body changes within 8 weeks, but individual results vary by constitution and lifestyle. A first consultation visit is recommended for accurate assessment.