Baekrokdam Wellness Dictionary · Prescription/Product

Gagam (Modification)

Explore the effects, dosage, side effects, and precautions of Gagam. Gagam is a prescription concept where medicinal herbs are added, removed, or adjusted in quantity from a basic prescription to change the overall composition based on medical judgment. Simply stating that 'a few things were added' does not reveal the entire composition. Ask which discomforts or medical judgments led to the addition or exclusion of ingredients, whether the dosage and duration have changed, and when the next check-up is. When comparing with a previous prescription, look at the actual changed items rather than the number of herbs.

Supervised by Korean Medicine Doctor Choi Yeon-seung Last reviewed August 25, 2026 Review scope: boundaries of product and prescription names, concepts of formulation, administration, and storage, and safe patient guidance phrasing
Representative image of Gagam

Criteria to check first

Distinguish these three aspects of modification

  • Adding, excluding, or adjusting the amount of medicinal ingredients
  • Requires medical judgment
  • Distinguished from products with a fixed composition

What is modification (gagham)?

Modification (gagham) is a method of adding, excluding, or adjusting the amount of medicinal ingredients based on medical evaluation results, rather than simply repeating a basic prescription. Customized Herbal Medicineor Herbal decoctionIt is mainly used when explaining the overall composition of a prescription.

Can all products be modified (gagham)?

No. For products with fixed ingredients and content, Fixed composition the term is not used to mean changing the product for each individual. If a fixed product is not suitable, a different prescription branch is reviewed during the medical evaluation rather than making arbitrary changes.

How can I check the details of the modifications?

Simply saying 'a few things were added' does not provide the full composition. You should ask which ingredients were added or excluded and why based on symptoms and medical judgment, whether the dosage and duration have changed, and when the next follow-up is. When comparing with a previous prescription, look at the actual changed items rather than the number of ingredients.

Even if discomfort occurs during intake, do not modify the medicine at home by removing specific ingredients or mixing it with other Korean herbal medicines. Record the changes after intake and the remaining amount Follow-up consultationand, if adjustment is necessary, it will be determined again within the context of the overall prescription. Keeping the labels from before and after the change will be helpful for the next consultation.

Choi Yeon-seung, Chief Director of Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic

Medical Staff Review

Director Choi Yeon-seung

Chief Director of Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic

Modification Glossary, reviewed the safety of expressions and the scope of verification before administration.

Review scope: boundaries of product/prescription names, concepts of formulation/administration/storage, safe patient guidance phrases · Last reviewed 2026-08-25

  • Graduated from Kyung Hee University College of Korean Medicine
  • Providing Korean medicine treatment since 2010
  • Consultations for Gongjindan, Gyeongokgo, Nokyong (Deer Antler) restorative medicine, and customized restorative herbal medicine
Director's Full Profile

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Summary and review information for this page

Reviewing Medical Staff

Choi Yeon-seung, Doctor of Korean MedicineChief Director · Editor of Korean Medicine Atlas · BRC Researcher

Page Summary

Modification (gagham): Modification is a method of adding, excluding, or adjusting the amount of medicinal ingredients based on medical evaluation results, rather than simply repeating a basic prescription. It is mainly used when explaining the overall composition of customized restorative herbal medicine or decoctions (tang-yak). Even if discomfort occurs during intake, do not modify the medicine at home by removing specific ingredients or mixing it with other Korean herbal medicines. Record the changes after intake and the remaining amount for re-consultation, and if adjustment is necessary, it will be determined again within the context of the overall prescription. Keeping the labels from before and after the change will be helpful for the next consultation.

Key Points

  • Modification (gagham) is a method of adding, excluding, or adjusting the amount of medicinal ingredients based on medical evaluation results, rather than simply repeating a basic prescription. It is mainly used when explaining the overall composition of customized restorative herbal medicine or decoctions (tang-yak).
  • Simply stating that 'a few things were added' does not provide a clear understanding of the overall composition. We ask which specific discomforts or clinical judgments led to the addition or removal of ingredients, whether the dosage and duration have changed, and when the next follow-up is scheduled. When comparing with a previous prescription, we focus on the actual changes made rather than the number of medicinal herbs.
  • Even if you experience discomfort during intake, do not remove specific ingredients at home or mix them with other herbal medicines to adjust the formula. Please record any changes after intake and the remaining amount for a follow-up consultation; if adjustments are necessary, they will be determined based on the overall prescription relationship. Keeping the labels from both before and after the change will be helpful for your next consultation.
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