Q. I live in Goyang City. Is it possible to have a non-face-to-face (telemedicine) consultation for a diet program at a Korean medicine clinic?

Living in Goyang City, the distance can be a concern. When I first started with telemedicine, I wondered if it would work, but it has become quite useful for follow-up patients. However, there are conditions. It depends on whether you are a first-time patient (initial visit) or someone who has already been treated (follow-up). For first-time patients: In Korean medicine diet therapy, it's important to address underlying causes like Spleen Deficiency (脾虛, biheo) or Phlegm-Fluid (痰飮, dameum) rather than simply 'losing weight'. Spleen Deficiency refers to weakened spleen function leading to poor digestion and metabolism, while Phlegm-Fluid indicates accumulation of unnecessary fluids in the body making weight loss difficult. Since these must be confirmed through pulse and tongue diagnosis in person, we strongly recommend an in-person first visit. For follow-up patients: Since your constitution and condition are already known, remote consultations are possible. We ask about your recent condition, dietary patterns, bowel movements, etc., via phone or video, and adjust the herbal prescription accordingly. Once the prescription is confirmed, we prepare it at our clinic and send it via courier. We can also promptly address any side effects such as digestive discomfort or headaches during herbal medicine intake. The key is that telemedicine is a tool for convenience. To maximize diet effectiveness, we recommend getting a thorough diagnosis during your first visit, then using remote consultations for ongoing management. If you feel burdened, feel free to contact us by phone first.