Q. What are the steps for losing weight with Traditional Korean Medicine?

In my practice, I always begin with your constitution. TKM weight management is not about starving or forcing rapid loss; it is about understanding why your body tends to gain weight. During the first one to two weeks, I diagnose whether the root pattern is Spleen deficiency (脾虛) or Phlegm-rheum (痰飮). When Spleen function weakens, digestion becomes sluggish, fatigue sets in, and weight accumulates easily. Rather than drastic restriction, this phase focuses on regular meal timing and reducing irritating foods. If you have previously experienced side effects from Western weight-loss drugs, it is especially important to proceed slowly. From weeks three to four, active treatment begins. For Spleen deficiency, I prescribe Spleen-tonifying (補脾) herbal formulas; when Phlegm-rheum is pronounced, the prescription emphasizes resolving Phlegm (祛痰). Acupuncture regulates gastrointestinal function and helps stabilize excessive appetite. Many patients notice around this time that their edema has decreased and digestion feels easier. I encourage them to pay attention to bodily signals rather than scale numbers; through experience, I have found that obsession with numbers often triggers rebound. After one to two months, we address accompanying factors such as Blood stasis (瘀血) or Qi stagnation (氣滯), and your constitution itself begins to shift. Progress varies individually, but by this stage most patients sense that their body responds differently than before. For example, weight now fluctuates naturally with activity level rather than creeping up after small meals. The key is not how quickly the kilograms drop, but how long the healthier state is maintained. Therefore, the final phase aims to solidify daily habits that suit your unique constitution.