Q. I live in Cheongju. What is the process for getting a non-face-to-face prescription for diet herbal medicine?

I admit I was initially skeptical about receiving diet herbal medicine through a non-face-to-face consultation. However, after some trial and error, I can confidently explain the process. Even remotely, a thorough diagnosis is possible. The health questionnaire covers lifestyle, abdominal distension, bowel habits, etc. During the video call, the doctor examines your tongue (舌診, shězhěn, tongue diagnosis) to assess constitutional type. Although pulse diagnosis (脈診, màizhěn, pulse diagnosis) is omitted, the doctor asks about digestion and areas of edema to evaluate for conditions like Spleen Deficiency (脾虛, pí xū, Pi Xu) or Phlegm-Fluid (痰飮, tán yǐn, Tan Yin). Timelines are as follows: (1) Within 1–2 days of registration, a 20–30 minute video consultation is conducted. (2) Herbal medicine arrives by courier within 2–3 days after consultation, with dosage instructions sent via text. (3) The first week is an adaptation period: as Pi Xu improves, the stomach feels more comfortable; as Tan Yin disperses, facial and ankle puffiness decreases. You'll first notice lightness in the body rather than numbers on a scale. (4) By weeks 2–4, Qi and Blood (氣血, qì xuè) circulation improves, appetite stabilizes, and fatigue lessens. A follow-up consultation refines the prescription and provides dietary correction tips. (5) In months 2–3, body composition changes begin, but individual variation is large, so I cannot promise a specific weight loss amount. Instead, we gradually reduce the herbal medicine to maintain results and prevent rebound. This non-face-to-face method is not a simple medicine delivery without doctor oversight; it operates within legal medical boundaries with regular consultations to adjust treatment. You may have doubts at first, but try one consultation before deciding.