Q. I'm thinking about trying some of the popular diet probiotics or supplements lately. What do you recommend at the clinic?

I have personally tried many of those trending supplements in the past. However, I felt frustrated when I realized that regardless of what I took, I wasn't losing weight. Through that experience, I learned a vital lesson: the reasons for weight gain vary significantly from person to person. Supplements are convenient and accessible. Probiotics, for instance, certainly have positive effects on organizing the intestinal environment and assisting bowel movements. However, the limitation is that they cannot directly flip your body's 'fundamental metabolic switch.' In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), some patients may suffer from Spleen Deficiency (脾虛, Bi-heo), where a lack of energy prevents weight loss. Others may be hindered by Phlegm-fluid (痰飮, Dam-eum) accumulation or Blood Stasis (瘀血, Eo-hyeol) that obstructs circulation. For example, if you have a Spleen Deficiency and take appetite suppressants blindly, your energy levels may drop further, making a 'yo-yo' effect (weight regain) almost inevitable. Conversely, those with excessive Phlegm-fluid tend to experience edema (swelling), meaning circulation must be addressed first to make the diet effective. Ultimately, the answer depends on your current bodily state. Use supplements only as supportive aids and first examine your body's metabolic flow. As your practitioner, I will help you analyze and resolve these root causes.