Q. It's difficult for me to visit the clinic in Banpo. Is it possible to get a prescription for diet herbal medicine via telehealth?

As someone who also experiences the rush of a daily professional schedule, I fully understand how convenient telehealth prescriptions can be. The primary advantage is the significant amount of time saved; you can receive a consultation and have your herbal medicine delivered via courier without the need to travel. For those who find in-person visits burdensome, this can be a comfortable starting point. However, there are certain limitations. The core of Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) lies in directly observing the patient's complexion and performing pulse diagnosis (맥진) and tongue diagnosis (설진). To refine the prescription, a practitioner needs to determine if the primary cause of weight gain is 'Dameum' (痰飮, accumulated phlegm and fluid retention) or 'Eohyeol' (瘀血, blood stasis caused by poor circulation). In particular, those with a 'Bi-heo' (脾虛, Spleen deficiency) constitution and a weak digestive system can react very differently depending on the specific herbal ingredients. Using potent herbs when spleen function is low can lead to digestive discomfort. Having gone through my own trials and errors during my years of study, I deeply understand the importance of these clinical details. While telehealth is a convenient option, I recommend visiting the clinic in person for your first consultation if you wish to receive a highly customized prescription based on an accurate assessment of your body. Please choose the method that best fits your current situation.