What Is Your Body Constitution?
Body constitution, how would you relate to it? Do you have a strong or weak constitution?
In TCM, body constitution is categorized into 2 types: Balanced, and imbalanced constitution.
Good if you have a balanced constitution, about 1 in 3 people have a balanced constitution. But what happens if you have an imbalanced constitution?
Don’t worry, the constitution can be regulated with lifestyle adjustments!
Identify Your Body Constitution
The different TCM constitutions are named after imbalances of TCM elements (yin, yang, qi, blood, fluids) within the body. Each type of imbalance manifests as a set of physical traits, physiological features, psychological state, and pathological tendencies, that are characteristic of each constitution.
TCM Constitution is influenced by nature, and also nurture. Hence, lifestyle adjustments do help improve body imbalances.
The 9 types of TCM constitutions
Identify with your traits, and see how you may adjust your lifestyle to boost your constitution towards a healthier, balanced one!
1. Balanced Constitution
Physical Traits: Healthy, balanced physique. radiant complexion, lustrous hair.
Physiological Features: Energetic. Good appetite, sleep, bowels. Adapts well to environmental changes.
Psychological State: Easy-going, cheerful.
Pathological Tendencies: Good immunity, seldom fall ill.
Boost your constitution:
Keep up with your balanced diet and active lifestyle. Avoid tipping the balance with food that is overly greasy, spicy, sweet, cold, or tonifying.
2. Qi Deficiency Constitution
Physical Traits: Generally weaker muscles.
Physiological Features: Soft-spoken, easily out of breath. Perspires easily, prone to exhaustion.
Psychological State: Introvert, timid.
Pathological Tendencies: Prone to colds, chronic fatigue. Takes longer to recover from illness.
Boost your constitution:
Choose foods that are easy to digest, such as cooked vegetables, lean protein, easily digestible grains, and fat-free or low-fat dairy.
Avoid overeating. Consume food that helps replenish qi such as Chinese yam and millet porridge; and avoid food that depletes qi, such as peppermint and radish.
Engage in frequent, low-intensity exercises, within the range of no fatigue and tiredness, for enhanced stamina. Avoid overworking, and try to cultivate open-mindedness and optimism in life.
3. Yang Deficiency Constitution
Physical Traits: Usually plump. Generally weaker muscles.
Physiological Features: Cold limbs, less tolerant to cold. Lethargic, usually sleeps more.
Psychological State: Introvert, quiet.
Pathological Tendencies: Prone to diarrhoea and water retention.
Boost your constitution:
Choose food that is warm in nature, such as cinnamon, ginger, onion, leeks, etc. Avoid raw, cold, and greasy food.
Engage in moderate exercises (without profuse sweating) in the morning to activate yang qi. Avoid emotions of horror, and regulate emotions with joy.
Keep warm at all times, where possible. Staying out in the sun helps increase yang qi too.
4. Yin Deficiency Constitution
Physical Traits: Usually skinny, long physique.
Physiological Features: Frequent feverish sensation in palms and soles. Dry throat, nasal dryness, and dry stools. Always thirsty, and prefer cold drinks. Not tolerant to heat.
Psychological State: Extrovert, impatient.
Pathological Tendencies: Prone to dryness (dry eyes, dry cough, constipation), dizziness.
Boost your constitution:
Choose food that is nourishing in nature, such as white fungus, pear, and milk. Avoid fried, spicy food which further depletes yin.
Enjoy sufficient sleep and avoid staying up late. Work in a cool environment and avoid strenuous exercises (i.e. profuse sweating) to prevent fluid loss. Cultivate calmness of mind for better control over emotions.
5. Damp Phlegm Constitution
Physical Traits: Usually obese. Flabby abdomen. Oily skin.
Physiological Features: Perspires a lot, sticky perspiration. Feel heavy, or experience chest tightness.
Psychological State: Mild-mannered, patient.
Pathological Tendencies: Prone to diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular disease.
Boost your constitution:
Choose food that helps resolve dampness, such as Chinese yam, red bean, and seaweed. Avoid yin nourishing food such as white fungus, bird nest, and sesame.
Obese people should go for low sugar, low fat, and high fibre diet. Engage in more social activities.
Cultivate a range of interests to accumulate knowledge and widen outlooks. Commit to frequent, aerobic exercises of longer duration to feel more energetic thereafter.
6. Damp Heat Constitution
Physical Traits: Either plump, or pale and skinny. Oily skin, acne-prone.
Physiological Features: Bitter taste in mouth, dry mouth. Feel heavy and lethargic. Not tolerant to hot, humid weather.
Psychological State: Impatient, irritable.
Pathological Tendencies: Prone to acne and heatiness.
Boost your constitution:
Choose food that helps resolve damp heat, such as green beans, bitter gourd, and cucumber. Avoid alcoholic drinks, oily, or deep-fried food which aggravates damp heat within the body.
Avoid food that are warm or hot in nature such as ginger, pepper, and garlic to prevent heat accumulation.
Indulge in calming activities, and practice mental cultivation. Avoid overworking and staying up late. Engaging in moderate- to high-intensity exercises helps clear heat and resolve dampness.
7. Stagnant Blood Constitution
Physical Traits: Most are skinny. Dull skin complexion.
Physiological Features: Frequent pigmentation. Bruises easily. Frequent complains of pains and aches.
Psychological State: Easily vexed, impatient, forgetful.
Pathological Tendencies: Prone to bleeding, stroke, chest pain.
Boost your constitution:
Choose food that helps promote qi and blood circulation, such as brown rice, dried orange peel, brinjal, and black fungus. Avoid food that is cool or warm in nature.
Keeping to a low-salt, low-fat diet also helps improve blood circulation. Keep warm and comfortable, and avoid exposure to cold.
Exercise work-life balance, and stay active for better circulation. Younger people may take on moderate- to high-intensity activities, while older people should take on light- to moderate-intensity activities, where appropriate.
Establish amiable personal relationships, and be generous to others.
8. Stagnant Qi Constitution
Physical Traits: Most are skinny. Dull skin complexion.
Physiological Features: Respond poorly to mental stimulation.
Psychological State: Introvert, worrisome, paranoid. Often unhappy. Mood swings.
Pathological Tendencies: Prone to depression, anxiety, fear, insomnia.
Boost your constitution:
Choose food that helps regulate the flow of qi, such as radish, tomatoes, celery, and banana. Avoid food that is cold, or hard to digest.
Avoid taking coffee/tea at night. Try rose, peppermint, or buddha’s hand (citron) infusion tea occasionally for better qi regulation, or to calm the mind.
Cultivate optimism. Take up passion for life and nature. Make friends with various kinds of people, and enjoy good entertainment.
Keep an open mind for better mood management. Engage in moderate- to high-intensity activities for better qi and blood circulation.
9. Inherited Special Constitution
Physical Traits: No characteristic traits. Some may have congenital anomalies.
Physiological Features: Varies with inherited medical conditions. Allergic individuals have poor adaptability to the environment; old ailments are easily triggered.
Psychological State: Varies with individuals.
Pathological Tendencies: Prone to allergies.
Boost your constitution:
Take light and balanced meals, with occasional mild-tonifying food, such as Chinese yam and red dates. Avoid raw, spicy, rich, oily food that might trigger allergic reactions.
Exercise caution with dairy products, crabs, lobster, and prawn if you’re unsure of any allergies to lactose/shellfish protein. Avoid exposure to possible allergens. Pay more attention to personalized care for work, rest, diet, and outdoor activities, according to individual conditions.
