For diet herbal medicine, would it be the same if I get a non-face-to-face prescription without visiting the hospital?
Frankly, the two methods serve different purposes. Non-face-to-face consultations are very convenient for busy office workers. On the other hand, in-person visits allow me to see your complexion and take your pulse directly, giving me a much more detailed picture of your current condition. If you want not just to lose weight but to accurately identify where your body is blocked, please come in at least once.
I fully understand that feeling—when I was very busy myself, I used to think, 'Oh, I just need the medicine, why bother going in?' However, in Korean medicine, every person has a different constitution. It's not just about reducing the number on the scale; we need to identify the *root cause* of why you gain weight. For example, some people have Spleen Deficiency (脾虛, impaired spleen function) marked by lack of energy and poor digestion. Others are held back by Phlegm-Fluid Retention (痰飮, accumulation of waste products) or Blood Stasis (瘀血, blocked blood circulation). These conditions are hard to fully capture through questionnaires alone. Only by seeing you in person and performing pulse diagnosis can the whole picture emerge. I went through quite a few trial-and-error cases early in my career, and I found that a precisely targeted prescription worked much faster than one based on guesswork. Here is a simple comparison of the two approaches:
| Category | Non-face-to-face Prescription | In-person Visit (Baekrokdam) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Accessibility | Very convenient, saves time | Requires travel time |
| Diagnostic method | Based on questionnaires and consultation | Precise diagnosis including pulse, tongue, and palpation |
| Degree of customization | Standardized prescriptions | Highly individualized to constitution and symptoms |
| Side effect management | Adjusted after symptom report | Real-time monitoring and immediate adjustment |
| Psychological bond | Efficient communication | Deep empathy and detailed lifestyle guidance |
The most rational approach is to first come in and establish your baseline condition with me, then combine non-face-to-face follow-ups during the maintenance phase.
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