A. Many patients ask, 'Can someone like me really lose weight?' Having struggled with extreme dieting myself in the past, I truly empathize with that desperation. Many office workers suffer from 'Spleen Deficiency (Biheo),' a state of weakened digestive function caused by frequent work dinners and stress-induced binge eating. Herbal medicine does more than just suppress appetite; it is a process of restoring a broken metabolism through consultation. Since everyone has a different constitution, there is no single right answer, but the beginning of healthy weight loss starts with identifying your body's specific imbalances.
📝 Detailed Answer
In the past, I also thought diet medicine was just about killing the appetite. However, after over 10 years of clinical practice, I’ve realized it's not just about eating less. Looking at office workers near Seolleung, where our clinic is located, two types are particularly common. First is the 'Phlegm-fluid (Dam-eum)' type, characterized by a heavy body and frequent swelling. When metabolic waste products aren't discharged properly, it feels like you're gaining weight just by drinking water. In such cases, we prescribe herbs that promote the circulation of Qi and Blood to flush out these impurities. On the other hand, if you lack energy and constantly crave sweets, you are likely the 'Spleen Deficiency (Biheo)' type. When the Spleen function weakens, the body fails to convert nutrients into energy and instead tries to store them as fat. These patients often say, 'I feel dizzy and weak lately, so I keep reaching for food.' Even during remote consultations, I put significant effort into identifying these constitutional causes. Many patients who have experienced the yo-yo effect from Western diet medications have damaged their 'Vital Qi (Jeong-gi).' The core of TKM weight loss is to reinforce this Vital Qi while promoting fat burning. Of course, response speeds and lifestyle adjustments vary for everyone. Healthy change occurs when the patient's will and the practitioner's prescription are perfectly synchronized. If you visit the clinic, I can examine your body composition and constitution more thoroughly. For now, let’s explore the fundamental reason why your body keeps trying to stockpile energy instead of using it.