Q. In Pyeongtaek, for weight loss treatment, which is better: an in-person consultation at a Korean medicine clinic or a non-face-to-face prescription?

Let me explain in more detail. The real strength of in-person consultation lies in the 'four examinations' (望聞問切), especially palpation (切診)—direct manual examination. Feeling the pulse reveals the state of qi and blood (氣血), and pressing the abdomen can detect whether the spleen and stomach (脾胃) are weak or if blood stasis (瘀血) is present. Non-face-to-face consultations skip this entirely, relying solely on patient self-report, which often misses symptoms or signs the patient hasn't noticed. For example, conditions like Spleen Deficiency (脾虛) with slowed metabolism or abdominal dampness-phlegm (濕痰) accumulation are very difficult for patients to describe accurately. On the other hand, non-face-to-face allows consultations at convenient times and medications delivered directly home, making it easier to maintain consistent treatment—key for long-term weight loss. After the pandemic, I introduced telemedicine and found patient satisfaction actually increased. Still, non-face-to-face alone struggles to fully capture abdominal obesity patterns like phlegm-fluid (痰飮) or dampness-phlegm. In summary, in-person excels in precise diagnosis, while non-face-to-face offers convenience and continuity. I recommend starting with an in-person visit to establish your baseline, then supplementing with non-face-to-face for follow-ups. If you are in Pyeongtaek, consider visiting a nearby Korean medicine clinic for a face-to-face consultation where I can assess you more thoroughly.