What are the different body constitutions in TCM?
The constitution of each person is influenced by congenital and acquired factors, and this varies from person to person. In the other words, the body's metabolism, functioning of organs and organ structure all combine to determine our susceptibility to pathogenic factors.In TCM, there are five different types of physical constitutions: neutral, yin and cold, yang and hot, phlegm and dampness, and dry.
Individuals have a sturdy body.
They often feel hot, experience dryness of the mouth, prefer cold drinks when thirsty, have a reddish complexion, are easily annoyed, and tend to suffer from insomnia.
They usually discharge scanty urine of a dark color, and have hard stools. Upon examination of the tongue, it appears red with a yellowish coating, or may have no coating at all. Such individuals are very sensitive to high temperatures.
Individuals have a frail body.
They usually feel cold, have an aversion to wind, and their limbs are cold.
They prefer hot or warm food and drinks, are reluctant to speak, get easily tired and have a pale or whitish complexion. They usually discharge clear urine frequently, stools are soft, and tend to suffer from diarrhea easily.
Upon examination of the tongue, it appears pink and bulky with a whitish coating. Such individuals are very sensitive to cold temperatures.
A person of this constitution perfers sweet food.
They experience heaviness in the body, dizziness, and tire easily. They look fatigued and sleepy in day time, and snore easily during sleep. Such people have a low metabolic rate. They tend to become overweight or bloated due to retention of water. The person may look fat but is drained of energy. The tongue looks moist and bulky, and is covered with a greasy coating. Such people are very sensitive to damp weather.
Individuals belonging to this constitution feel thirsty easily and experience dryness in the eyes, throat, lips and skin. When common flu is prevalent, they will usually have a cough without mucus. Such people tend to be skinny and do not put on weight easily.
Their common complaints are itchy skin, nose or eyes, and constipation - all due to lack of lubrication. They are very sensitive to low levels of humidity.
This type of person does not have any of the above complaints.
They look healthy with normal skin color. They have proper appetite and sleep, and do not feel hot or cold easily. Their urine and stools are normal.
The tongue is normal upon examination.
It should be emphasized that in reality, people usually have a mixed physical constitution, for example, cold and dry, damp and hot, or cold and deficient. Therefore, it is difficult to classify one type individually as more than one type of constitution may be present.
When planning a balanced diet, it is necessary to mix different flavors and energies according to the individual's needs. Embracing Chinese dietary advice is a process to shift to a more balanced diet. It does not mean you should restrict your diet; you may give up some foods but you will find a whole variety of foods you may have never tried before.
Learn more: Herbs Anti-Cancer Supplements
Yang and hot type
Individuals have a sturdy body.They often feel hot, experience dryness of the mouth, prefer cold drinks when thirsty, have a reddish complexion, are easily annoyed, and tend to suffer from insomnia.
They usually discharge scanty urine of a dark color, and have hard stools. Upon examination of the tongue, it appears red with a yellowish coating, or may have no coating at all. Such individuals are very sensitive to high temperatures.
Yin and cold type
Individuals have a frail body.They usually feel cold, have an aversion to wind, and their limbs are cold.
They prefer hot or warm food and drinks, are reluctant to speak, get easily tired and have a pale or whitish complexion. They usually discharge clear urine frequently, stools are soft, and tend to suffer from diarrhea easily.
Upon examination of the tongue, it appears pink and bulky with a whitish coating. Such individuals are very sensitive to cold temperatures.
Phlegm and damp type
A person of this constitution perfers sweet food.They experience heaviness in the body, dizziness, and tire easily. They look fatigued and sleepy in day time, and snore easily during sleep. Such people have a low metabolic rate. They tend to become overweight or bloated due to retention of water. The person may look fat but is drained of energy. The tongue looks moist and bulky, and is covered with a greasy coating. Such people are very sensitive to damp weather.
Dry type
Individuals belonging to this constitution feel thirsty easily and experience dryness in the eyes, throat, lips and skin. When common flu is prevalent, they will usually have a cough without mucus. Such people tend to be skinny and do not put on weight easily.Their common complaints are itchy skin, nose or eyes, and constipation - all due to lack of lubrication. They are very sensitive to low levels of humidity.
Neutral type
This type of person does not have any of the above complaints.They look healthy with normal skin color. They have proper appetite and sleep, and do not feel hot or cold easily. Their urine and stools are normal.
The tongue is normal upon examination.
It should be emphasized that in reality, people usually have a mixed physical constitution, for example, cold and dry, damp and hot, or cold and deficient. Therefore, it is difficult to classify one type individually as more than one type of constitution may be present.
When planning a balanced diet, it is necessary to mix different flavors and energies according to the individual's needs. Embracing Chinese dietary advice is a process to shift to a more balanced diet. It does not mean you should restrict your diet; you may give up some foods but you will find a whole variety of foods you may have never tried before.
Learn more: Herbs Anti-Cancer Supplements
References
| English References: | |
| 1. | Chinese System of Food Cures Prevention & Remedies by Henry C. Lu.Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 1986. |
| 2. | The Tao of Food, Richard Craze and Ronifjay, 1999 Godsfield Press. |
| 3. | Chinese Food: a Holistic Therapy by Tom Neuhaus, www.hopedance.org |
| 4. | Medicinal Food in China by Junshi Chen, M.D. http://newcenturynutrition.com |
| 5. | Cooling the Summer with Food: An Introduction to Medicinal Foods by Yanfang Wang, M.D., Ph.D. http://newcenturynutrition.com |
| 中文參考﹕ | |
| 1. | 党毅，中醫營養食療學，北京：科學出版社，1995 |
| 2. | Dang Yi, Peng Yong, Li Wenkui, Chinese Functional Food, New World Press, 1999 |
| 3. | Dang Yi, Wang Huizhu, Peng Yong, Chinese Health Tea, New World Press, 1999. |
| 4. | 羅元愷主編，中醫婦科學，上海：上海科學技術出版社，1986 |
| 5. | 史宇廣，單書健主編，小兒腹瀉專集，北京：中醫古籍出版社，1988 |
| 6. | 唐．孫思邈撰，備急千金要方，北京：人民衛生出版社影印，1955 |
| 7. | 元．忽思慧撰，劉玉書點校，飲膳正要，第一版，北京：人民衛生出版社，1986 |
| 8. | 高學敏，中藥學，第一版，北京：中國醫藥科技出版社，1990 |
| 9. | 冷方南等主編，中華臨床藥膳食療學，第一版，北京人民衛生出版社，1993 |
| 10. | 党毅，吃五穀更健康，第一版，臺灣：元氣齋出版社，1994 |
| Written By: |
| Dang Yi (黨毅) MD PhD |
| Professor, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine; Visiting Professor, Middlesex |
| University, London, UK; Vice Director, Gourmet Food Institute of Health Care and Nutrition of Beijing, PRC. |
| Editors: |
| Raka Dewan, Integrated Chinese Medicine Holdings Ltd. |
| Rose Tse, Integrated Chinese Medicine Holdings Ltd. |
What are the different body constitutions in TCM?
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