Q. There are many trendy short-term diet plans and methods these days. What approach does your Korean medicine clinic recommend?

I myself have tried extreme fasting or drastic diet plans out of enthusiasm in the past. I felt dizzy and lost concentration – I realized that approach was not right. Short-term diets have clear advantages: rapid visible changes and immediate sense of achievement. However, they also come with distinct drawbacks. Sudden nutritional imbalance can lead to hair loss or menstrual irregularities, and more importantly, the body may perceive a state of famine, eventually making it easier to gain weight later. In Korean Medicine, these phenomena are viewed from the perspective of phlegm-fluid (痰飮, stagnant metabolic waste) and blood stasis (瘀血, stagnant blood). When metabolism is not smooth, forced fasting can accumulate these waste products, making the body feel heavier. Particularly, individuals with spleen deficiency (脾虛, weakened digestive function) who over-restrict their diet may experience a sharp drop in energy and weakened immunity. It is difficult to claim any one method as 'best' because recommendations vary completely depending on one's constitution and health condition. Rather than blindly following trends, first check whether your body's metabolic switch is properly activated. We will discuss together and find the most comfortable path for you.