Q. Why can I get a diet prescription without visiting a Korean medicine clinic in person?

At first, I wondered, 'How can I prescribe without even feeling the pulse?' But as I treated diet-related cases in Korean medicine, I realized that inquiry (問診) plays a much bigger role than expected. Patterns like spleen deficiency (脾虛) or phlegm-fluid (痰飮) become evident from symptoms the patient directly reports—such as 'I feel bloated after eating,' 'My hands and feet are cold,' or 'My stools are loose or I'm constipated.' Adding photos showing a pale face or teeth marks (齒痕) on the tongue edge further clarifies the pattern identification (辨證). Based on this information, I can prepare formulas to strengthen spleen function or resolve damp-phlegm (濕痰). However, when the main issue involves localized pain or abdominal distension due to blood stasis (瘀血), abdominal palpation (腹診) is necessary, so I recommend a visit. The biggest advantage of non-face-to-face care is reduced time and location constraints—you can have a video consultation during lunch and receive herbal medicine by delivery. The downside is that accurate pattern identification requires thorough consultation, so it's important to describe your symptoms honestly. Especially for a first visit, it's best to allow plenty of time for the consultation. Currently, non-face-to-face treatment is conducted within legally permitted limits, and methods vary by clinic, so it's a good idea to check in advance.