Q. Why do costs for herbal diet medicine vary between TKM clinics, and why is it relatively expensive?
Individualized prescriptions based on each person's constitution (체질) and differences in herb grade are the main reasons. Unlike ready-made products, personalized formulas tailored to your specific health condition create cost variations between clinics.
📝 Detailed Answer
To be honest, even during my study years, I wondered, 'Why are herbal medicine prices so varied?' Here's the conclusion: herbal medicine isn't sold as ready-made products—it's personalized prescription.
Instead of simply adding weight-loss ingredients, the types and amounts of herbs vary completely based on the patient's current physical condition. In TKM, this approach simultaneously addresses multiple underlying issues:
- Spleen Deficiency (脾虛): A state where spleen function is weakened, reducing digestive absorption and metabolic capacity
- Phlegm Accumulation (痰積): A state where waste products accumulate, obstructing qi-blood circulation and causing edema
- Blood Stasis (瘀血): A state where blood circulation is stagnant, slowing the metabolic rate
So instead of simply prescribing a 'diet pill,' the process involves first addressing fundamental constitutional issues to activate the body's metabolic switch. Due to premium-grade herbs and the precise preparation process involved, costs may appear higher than general health supplements.
💡 Key Direction of Prescription
The goal is not simple appetite suppression, but to normalize metabolic function so the body can burn energy on its own.
Expert Verified
Dr. Yeonseung Choe
Chief Director
Last reviewed 2026.04.30