Q. I'm gaining weight specifically in my abdominal area—is it just age-related fat? There are so many types of Korean medicine diets; which approach would work best for me?

It is a common frustration—even for practitioners—how quickly abdominal fat accumulates as we age. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), we approach abdominal obesity through two primary paths. First, Korean herbal medicine (Hanyak) focuses on fundamentally restructuring the body's internal environment. It addresses 'Spleen Qi Deficiency' (Biheo), where the body fails to utilize energy efficiently, and eliminates 'Phlegm-Fluid' (Dameum), the sticky accumulation of metabolic waste. This is the gold standard for burning visceral fat, though it requires consistency in taking the decoctions. Second, local treatments like pharmacopuncture or lipolytic acupuncture directly target stubborn areas. These treatments resolve 'Blood Stasis' (Eohyeol)—stagnant blood that hinders flow—to refine the body's silhouette. While highly effective for localized contouring, these require frequent clinic visits and may show slower overall weight reduction compared to herbal medicine. There is no 'one-size-fits-all' answer. The key to avoiding the yo-yo effect is identifying whether your weight gain stems from Spleen Deficiency or a localized circulation issue. We will diagnose your specific state to find the most efficient combination for sustainable results.