Q. Is it possible to get a non-face-to-face herbal medicine prescription for weight loss in Icheon? I'm curious about how it works without visiting.

Many people are curious about non-face-to-face herbal medicine prescriptions for weight loss, and I was too. First, the advantages: you save commuting time—especially convenient for busy office workers or those living in Icheon. Second, regular follow-ups become easier: those who find weekly in-person visits burdensome can have video calls to check medication status, digestion, and bowel changes. Third, if the clinic has a systematic prescription and delivery process, you can receive herbal medicine without interruption. However, there are disadvantages. The biggest is the lack of pulse diagnosis (脈診) and abdominal diagnosis (腹診). In Traditional Korean Medicine, determining whether a condition is due to spleen deficiency (脾虛), phlegm-fluid (痰飮), or blood stasis (瘀血) relies heavily on manual palpation, which non-face-to-face methods cannot fully replace. After some trial and error, I concluded that the most effective approach is to have the first visit in person and then manage follow-ups remotely. A second drawback is difficulty in adjusting the taste or adverse reactions in real time—if you feel bloated or have diarrhea, you typically have to wait until the next visit. Third, insurance coverage may not apply in many cases, so costs can be similar to or higher than in-person visits. In conclusion, it depends on the situation. If you have already been treated at the same clinic and your constitution and main symptoms are clearly understood, non-face-to-face prescriptions can be efficient. However, for first-time visitors or those whose condition changes frequently, I recommend at least one in-person consultation. After all, the distance from Icheon is not that far.