Nine types of body constitution in traditional Chinese medicine

Generally speaking, there are huge differences between Chinese medicine and Western medicine. Sometimes the same disease has different names in traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine. In traditional Chinese medicine, diseases are classified and treatment methods are chosen mainly based on a person's constitution. Because most Chinese herbal medicines are only suitable for people with specific body types and have no effect on people with other body types. The following will introduce to our readers the 9 types of body constitutions in traditional Chinese medicine.

1. Peaceful constitution

A balanced constitution is the most stable and healthiest constitution! The general reason for its occurrence is good innate endowment and proper acquired conditioning.

A balanced constitution is a physical health state in traditional Chinese medicine that is characterized by a moderate body shape, ruddy complexion, abundant energy, and strong and robust organ functions. The proportion of people with a balanced temperament is about 32.75%, or about one-third. There are more men than women, and the older they are, the fewer people have a peaceful constitution.

1. Physical characteristics: well-proportioned and strong;

2. Common manifestations: moist complexion and skin color, thick and shiny hair, bright eyes, bright and broad nose, normal sense of smell and taste, rosy lips, not easily fatigued, full of energy, tolerance to cold and heat, good sleep, good appetite, and normal urination and defecation;

3. Psychological characteristics: easy-going and cheerful;

4. Disease tendency: rarely get sick;

5. Ability to adapt to the external environment: Strong ability to adapt to the natural and social environment.

2. Qi deficiency constitution

Qi deficiency constitution and Yang deficiency constitution are quite similar, and in terms of nature, they both belong to deficiency constitution. The main symptoms of Yang deficiency constitution are insufficient heat, deficiency of Yang Qi, lack of warmth, and fear of cold.

Qi deficiency constitution also has these tendencies of Yang deficiency constitution, but it is most mainly reflected in the low function of internal organs. People with qi deficiency have weak lung and spleen functions compared to the five internal organs.

Overall characteristics: Insufficient vital energy, with fatigue, shortness of breath, spontaneous sweating and other symptoms of qi deficiency as the main features.

1. Physical characteristics: not strong muscles;

2. Common symptoms: shortness of breath, difficulty catching breath; prefers quietness, dislikes talking, speaks in a low and weak voice, easily catches cold, often sweats, often feels tired and weak; shortness of breath, lazy to speak, lack of energy, pale red tongue, teeth marks on the edges of the tongue, weak pulse.

The appearance may be sallow or pale complexion, easy sweating, pale and plump tongue, teeth marks on the edges of the tongue, slow gait, dizziness, forgetfulness, spontaneous sweating, fatigue, loose stools, abdominal distension, loss of appetite, palpitations, drowsiness, shortness of breath, chest tightness, lower limb edema, clear and long urination, frequent urination at night, drooling during sleep, whites of the eyes, and difficult to stop bleeding.

3. Psychological characteristics: introverted, emotionally unstable, timid, and not fond of adventure;

4. Tendency to disease: weak constitution, prone to colds; or difficult to recover after disease onset due to weak resistance; prone to visceral prolapse;

5. Ability to adapt to the external environment: Intolerance to cold, wind and heat.

3. Yang deficiency constitution

Yang deficiency constitution is a manifestation of insufficient Yang in the body and internal coldness caused by Yang deficiency when the internal organs of the human body are dysfunctional. It is often manifested by pale complexion, weak breath, fatigue, sleepiness, fear of cold and cold limbs, general weakness or limb edema, pale, plump and tender tongue with teeth marks on the edges, pale white tongue coating, and a deep, weak pulse.

Overall characteristics: Insufficient Yang Qi, with symptoms of coldness, fear of cold, cold hands and feet as the main features.

1. Physical characteristics: not strong muscles;

2. Common symptoms: always cold hands and feet, always cold stomach, wear more clothes than others, can't stand the cold in winter, can't stand the cold air in air-conditioned rooms in summer, like quiet, always feel uncomfortable when eating (drinking) cold things, easy to have loose stools, clear urine color and large amount;

3. Psychological characteristics: Personality is mostly calm and introverted;

4. Disease tendency: The disease is mostly caused by cold syndrome, prone to diarrhea, impotence, etc.;

5. Ability to adapt to the external environment: intolerant to cold, tolerant to summer, intolerant to winter, and susceptible to dampness.

4. Yin deficiency constitution

1. Physical characteristics: slender body;

2. Common symptoms: flushed cheeks, hot palms and soles, hot flashes and night sweats, irritability, often feeling hot in the body and face, unable to tolerate the summer heat, often feeling hot in the palms and soles, dry mouth, dry hair and skin, dry and red tongue with little coating, or even smooth and without coating, often feeling dry eyes, dry mouth and throat, easy to insomnia, often dry stools, excessive worry, excessive sexual intercourse, and long-term illness lead to the onset of the disease. ;

3. Psychological characteristics: impatient, extroverted and lively;

4. Disease tendency: prone to asthenia, loss of semen, insomnia, etc., can tolerate winter but not summer, cannot tolerate summer heat, heat, dryness, prone to cough, diabetes, amenorrhea, fever, etc.;

5. Ability to adapt to the external environment: Normally, it cannot tolerate heat and dryness in summer, can tolerate winter, but cannot tolerate summer.

5. Blood Stasis Constitution

Blood stasis constitution refers to a constitution in which the blood in the body is prone to poor circulation or internal bleeding that cannot dissipate, resulting in blood stasis, when the internal organs of the human body are dysfunctional. It is often manifested by a dull complexion, rough brown skin, pigmentation, or purple spots, dull lips, a bluish purple tongue or petechiae, and a thin and wiry pulse.

Overall characteristics: Poor blood circulation, with dark complexion, purple tongue and other blood stasis manifestations as the main features.

1. Physical characteristics: Most people are thin;

2. Common manifestations: Purple ecchymoses (subcutaneous hemorrhage) often appear on the skin without notice, the skin is often dry and rough, often painful, the complexion is dark or has pigmentation, yellow-brown patches, the eye sockets are often dark, the eyes often have red threads (congestion), and the gums are prone to bleeding when brushing teeth;

Poor flow of Qi and blood in the body or obstructed blood circulation can lead to a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. Blood stasis constitution is often manifested by dull complexion, dark circles under the eyes, dry, flaky skin, dark spots, dry and flaky nails, dry, split and tangled hair, which affects women's beauty.

3. Psychological characteristics: easily irritable, forgetful, and impatient;

4. Disease tendency: prone to bleeding, stroke, coronary heart disease, etc.;

5. Ability to adapt to the external environment: Intolerance to wind and cold.

6. Phlegm-damp constitution

Phlegm-damp constitution refers to a condition in which the internal organs of the human body are dysfunctional, which can easily lead to disorders in the movement of qi, blood, body fluids, and moisture stagnate, turning into phlegm and forming an internal manifestation of phlegm-dampness. It is often manifested as obesity, abdominal distension, chest tightness, excessive phlegm, easy drowsiness, and a heavy and uncomfortable body.

Overall characteristics: phlegm and dampness condensation, with obesity, abdominal distension, sticky mouth and other phlegm and dampness manifestations as the main characteristics.

The phlegm-damp constitution is caused by congenital inheritance, overeating of rich and sweet foods, and lack of exercise, which leads to fluid retention in the body. The spleen is unable to transport and transform fluid, which accumulates and forms phlegm. The mixture of phlegm and dampness is sticky and difficult to resolve, and it can reach everywhere. Wherever it stays, it will hinder the functions of various organs, thus causing a variety of discomforts and diseases.

When phlegm and dampness remain in the lungs, they hinder the lung qi from spreading and descending, causing symptoms such as coughing with phlegm, phlegm in the throat, snoring, shortness of breath, and even sleep apnea, which can easily lead to chronic bronchitis, chronic bronchial asthma, and cough.

1. Physical characteristics: obese body, plump and soft abdomen;

2. Common symptoms: excessive and sticky sweating, wet and sweaty palms and soles, often feeling sore, heavy and uncomfortable in the limbs, greasy feeling on the face, sticky or sweet feeling in the mouth, and a lot of phlegm;

The facial skin is oily, sweaty and sticky, there is chest tightness, excessive phlegm, a sticky or sweet mouth, a preference for fatty, sweet and sticky food, a greasy tongue coating, and a slippery pulse.

3. Psychological characteristics: mild character, steady, respectful, and patient;

4. Disease tendency: prone to diabetes, stroke, dizziness, cough and asthma, gout, hypertension, coronary heart disease, etc.;

5. Ability to adapt to the external environment: Poor adaptability to the rainy season and humid environment.

7. Damp-heat constitution

The so-called dampness is what is commonly referred to as water dampness, which can be divided into external dampness and internal dampness. External dampness is caused by the invasion of external moisture into the human body due to humid climate, wading through rain, or a damp living room; internal dampness is a pathological product, often related to digestive function.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the spleen has the function of "transporting and transforming water and dampness". If one is weak and has poor digestion or overeats, and eats too much greasy food and sweets, the spleen cannot transport and transform water and dampness normally, causing "water and dampness to stagnate inside the body". People with spleen deficiency are also prone to invasion of external dampness, and external dampness often blocks the spleen and stomach, causing dampness to be generated from the inside. Therefore, the two are both independent and related.

Overall characteristics: internal accumulation of dampness and heat, with greasy complexion, bitter taste in the mouth, and greasy yellow tongue coating as the main symptoms.

1. Physical characteristics: fat or thin;

2. Common manifestations: The face and nose tip are always shiny and oily, prone to acne and boils, often feel bitter, bad breath or a bad smell in the mouth, often have sticky and uncomfortable stools, feel hot when urinating, the urine is yellow, women often have yellow vaginal discharge, and men's scrotum is always wet and sweaty; the tongue is reddish, the tongue coating is yellow and greasy, and the pulse is slippery and rapid.

When damp heat remains in the spleen and stomach, there may be symptoms such as bad breath, heavy body odor, obesity, bleeding gums, craving for cold drinks, frequent hunger and fullness, acne and blackheads around the lips, etc. It is easy to get diseases such as acne, rosacea, folliculitis, eczema, tinea corporis, tooth decay, gingivitis, etc. If damp heat remains in the liver and gallbladder, symptoms such as bitter taste in the mouth, irritability, and pain in the flanks will occur, and it is easy to get fatty liver.

3. Psychological characteristics: often irritable and irritable;

4. Disease tendency: prone to boils, jaundice, fever, etc.;

5. Ability to adapt to the external environment: It is difficult to adapt to a humid environment or high temperature, especially in late summer and early autumn, when the climate is hot and humid.

8. Qi stagnation constitution

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that qi stagnation is mostly caused by depression, irritability and bad mood. Long-term qi stagnation can lead to poor blood circulation and seriously affect health.

1. Physical characteristics: Most people are thin;

2. Common symptoms: often feel depressed, low mood, easily nervous, anxious, sentimental or easily frightened, often feel pain in the breasts and flanks, often feel chest tightness, often sigh for no reason, easily feel flustered, have a fast heartbeat, often feel a blockage or foreign body sensation in the throat, and easily suffer from insomnia;

Common symptoms may include distension or pain in the chest, flanks, abdomen, or injured area. The pain is often characterized by distending pain, shooting pain, and attacking pain. The symptoms may be mild or severe at times, and the location is not fixed. It is generally invisible when pressed. The distension and pain often subsides with belching, intestinal rumbling, and flatulence.

3. Psychological characteristics: introverted and unstable personality, melancholy and fragile, sensitive and suspicious;

4. Disease tendency: prone to insomnia, depression, neurosis, etc.;

5. Ability to adapt to the external environment: Poor adaptability to mental stimulation; dislike autumn, winter and rainy days.

9. Special constitution

Special constitution is also known as special physiological defects and allergies. What does "special" mean? It means special gift. It refers to a special physical condition caused by genetic and congenital factors, mainly including allergic constitution, genetic disease constitution, fetal constitution, etc.

Overall characteristics: Congenital abnormalities, with physiological defects, allergic reactions, etc. as the main features.

1. Physical characteristics: None, or deformity, or congenital physiological defects;

2. Common manifestations: Allergic constitution, often have stuffy nose, sneezing, runny nose even if not having a cold, prone to asthma, prone to allergies to drugs, food, smells, pollen, seasons, prone to urticaria, purple-red petechiae and ecchymosis due to allergies, skin often turns red when scratched, and scratches appear;

Skin itching, desquamation, redness, burning pain, ulceration, sores, boils, urticaria, itchy throat, difficulty opening eyes, purpura, and even acute and critical symptoms such as respiratory distress, tachycardia, asthma, and fainting, and susceptibility to influenza, viral epidemic diseases, etc.

3. Psychological characteristics: None;

4. Disease tendency: For those with hereditary diseases, it is often manifested that the parents have the same disease, or are born with defects; if they have an allergic constitution, they are prone to allergic diseases such as drug allergies, hay fever, asthma, etc.

5. Ability to adapt to the external environment: Poor adaptability. For example, people with allergies have poor adaptability to seasons and are prone to chronic diseases.