Doctor, what usually happens to other patients after taking herbal medicine? I'm curious about actual cases.
Since every individual has a unique constitution, there is no single 'standard' experience. Some patients notice a natural decrease in appetite, while others first feel a lightness in their body upon waking. Rather than forced fasting, it is crucial to understand why your body craves food. While there is no magic cure that works for everyone, the process becomes much smoother once we find the prescription tailored to your specific constitution.
Based on the cases I see in my clinic, patients typically fall into two major categories. First are those with severe edema who always feel heavy; for them, I prescribe formulas to eliminate 'Dam-eum' (痰飮, the accumulation of metabolic waste and fluids in the body), which leads to a sensation of the body feeling 'lighter.'
Second are those whose struggles aren't about willpower, but rather a decline in digestive function. In Traditional Korean Medicine, this is viewed as 'Bi-heo' (脾虛, Spleen deficiency). When digestive efficiency drops, the body sends 'false hunger' signals demanding more energy. In these cases, the priority is to strengthen the Spleen function and normalize metabolism.
Additionally, some patients have significant 'Eo-hyeol' (瘀血, blood stasis or stagnant blood), which hinders circulation. For these individuals, improving blood flow is the key to breaking a weight loss plateau. Of course, these responses vary based on one's constitution and current physical condition.
Ultimately, the core is identifying 'where the blockage is' in your body. I personally remember struggling with dizziness after attempting an overly restrictive diet in the past. Having gone through that trial and error myself, I understand it well. I believe that the start of a healthy transformation is not about eating less, but about restoring the overall balance of your body.
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