I want to lower my body fat percentage. What kind of weight loss methods do Korean medicine clinics usually recommend?
While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, we typically recommend a combination of constitution-specific herbal medicine and acupuncture. The key is not simply starving yourself, but enhancing your body's metabolic capacity to burn fat efficiently, with the intensity of treatment adjusted based on your current health status.
Having experienced the pitfalls of crash dieting myself—such as dizziness and a drop in productivity—I realized that the goal must be creating an internal environment where the body can burn fat naturally.
The primary advantage of Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) is its personalized approach: we regulate appetite and boost the basal metabolic rate according to your specific constitution. Rather than focusing solely on the number on the scale, we concentrate on reducing edema and eliminating metabolic waste. In particular, by clearing 'Dameum' (痰飮)—the accumulation of unnecessary fluids and waste products in the body—you will feel your body becoming significantly lighter.
Of course, there are challenges. Some patients find the distinct taste or scent of herbal medicine difficult, and depending on the constitution, some may experience initial side effects such as heart palpitations or insomnia. There is also the natural temptation to rely solely on the medicine while neglecting dietary discipline.
If you ask what the 'best' method is, my answer is always 'the method that fits your current body state.' For example, some patients suffer from Spleen Deficiency (脾虛), leading to poor digestion and a slow metabolism, while others have an accumulation of Blood Stasis (瘀血), which hinders circulation and prevents weight loss.
Rather than simply prescribing the strongest medication, the fastest path to success is for me to work with you to find the most appropriate prescription for your unique condition. I invite you to visit the clinic so we can discuss a tailored plan together.
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