Q. Perilla oil diets are trending lately; as an Oriental Medicine doctor, do you actually recommend them?

I can relate to the desire to try trending health methods; in the past, I once struggled after following a popular regimen that simply didn't suit my own body. The benefits of a perilla oil diet are clear. Being rich in Omega-3, it helps reduce inflammatory responses and provides a sense of satiety that suppresses 'false hunger.' If your goal is to improve vascular health while controlling appetite, the direction is excellent. However, caution is necessary. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), those with 'Spleen Deficiency' (Bi-heo, 脾虛)—a state where the Spleen's function is weakened and digestive capacity is low—may find that a sudden high-fat diet does more harm than good. Such individuals may experience nausea or loose stools after consuming perilla oil. Those with an accumulation of 'Phlegm-Fluid' (Dam-eum, 痰飮) should also be careful. Dam-eum refers to a state where metabolic waste stagnates and becomes viscous in the body; adding excessive oils to this condition can further obstruct metabolism, making the body feel heavy and lethargic. Therefore, there is no single 'perfect' answer. Whether this diet is recommended depends on your digestive state and the flow of your Qi and Blood. I suggest first assessing whether your current metabolic state is capable of efficiently processing and burning these fats.