Q. I live in Gwangyang; is it okay to get herbal medicine via remote consultation instead of visiting the clinic in person? Who would you recommend this for?

I have experienced firsthand how neglecting health due to a busy schedule can lead to prolonged recovery. Therefore, I aim to provide the most convenient path for my patients while maintaining safety. Remote prescriptions are suitable for office workers who find the commute from Gwangyang to Seoul too demanding, or those who have taken herbal medicine previously and are familiar with their body's tendencies. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), we prioritize the underlying mechanism of why weight loss is stalled over the number on the scale. We must differentiate whether the cause is 'Spleen Deficiency' (脾虛, Bi-heo)—where weakened digestive function slows metabolism—'Phlegm-Fluid' (痰飮, Dam-eum)—where metabolic waste accumulates—or 'Blood Stasis' (瘀血, Eo-hyeol)—where blood circulation is stagnant. The prescription changes entirely depending on which category you fall into. While a consultation alone may seem sufficient remotely, a precise diagnosis involving pulse palpation and tongue examination is significantly more accurate in person. Because individuals react differently to the same herbs based on their unique state of health, I strongly recommend that first-time patients visit the clinic to establish their 'body map.' Once this baseline is set, remote prescriptions during the maintenance phase become a much more efficient and effective option.