Doctor, in what situation would it be best for me to get a remote prescription for weight loss herbal medicine?
Recommendations vary by individual condition. I suggest it for those with extremely busy schedules making clinic visits difficult, or those struggling with appetite control. However, for those with underlying medical conditions or significant changes in constitution, an initial in-person consultation is much safer.
I fully understand the struggle of being so overwhelmed by work that you barely have time to eat. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), there is no one-size-fits-all answer; prescriptions change completely depending on which part of the body's balance is disrupted.
For instance, those with a 'Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo, 脾虛)' constitution—characterized by weak digestion and easy fatigue—will find that fasting diets are harmful. They need to replenish their energy to boost metabolism. Conversely, those with 'Phlegm-Fluid (Dam-eum, 痰飮)' accumulation causing heaviness, or 'Blood Stasis (Eo-hyeol, 瘀血)' impeding circulation, require an approach focused on promoting flow.
I recommend remote prescriptions in the following cases:
1. Patients who already accurately know their constitution through previous clinic visits.
2. Office workers who urgently need appetite suppression but have severe time constraints.
3. Those seeking a milder approach after experiencing side effects from conventional weight loss drugs, such as nausea or palpitations.
However, if you are new to herbal medicine or are taking multiple other medications, a more precise prescription is possible only if I can personally check your pulse and physical state. To ensure you receive the most accurate 'tailored fit' from the start without trial and error, I cautiously recommend an initial in-person consultation.
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