Q. Should I take multivitamins or other supplements while on a herbal medicine diet?

Many people try to lose weight through extreme fasting, but this often leads to dizziness and severe fatigue because nutrient deficiency is the greatest enemy of sustainable weight loss. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), the accumulation of metabolic waste in the body is referred to as 'Dameum' (phlegm-fluid retention). These sticky residues hinder metabolism. To clear them effectively, your body's 'engine' must run efficiently, and vitamins and minerals serve as the essential fuel for this process. Furthermore, if you have a 'Bi-heo' (Spleen Deficiency) condition, your body's ability to absorb nutrients is diminished, making you more prone to exhaustion. During the first one to two weeks of a diet, it is common to feel fatigued as the body adapts. Taking a multivitamin during this phase can improve metabolic efficiency and make the process much smoother. Once you reach the one-month mark and feel lighter, a balanced diet becomes more critical than relying on supplements. However, some commercial weight loss supplements may contain overlapping ingredients or components that interfere with the absorption of herbal medicines. Please bring your supplement bottles or photos of the ingredients to your consultation. I will carefully review them to determine whether you should continue taking them or pause them for a while.