Some people always have cold hands and feet in autumn and winter, afraid of cold and chill, and when asked, they say they have a weaker constitution. But there are also people who, in the same autumn and winter season, can still wear a T-shirt and feel hot, sweating all over at the slightest movement. In traditional Chinese medicine, this is attributed to different constitutions.
Some have mentioned buying some health-preserving medicine packets from a pharmacy, boiling and drinking them at home, hoping to prevent illness and strengthen their health. However, they have very little effect, and may even encounter problems. Perhaps this is due to not targeting the specific issues. Traditional Chinese medicine wants to tell everyone that understanding one’s constitution is essential for disease prevention and health preservation. Based on your constitution, what kind of health-preserving methods are suitable for you?
【Balanced Constitution】
Characteristics: Relatively good health, good sleep, cheerful personality, rarely gets sick.
This can be considered the only healthy constitution among the 9 types. It accounts for approximately 32%. Those with this constitution rarely get sick.
【Qi Deficiency Constitution】
Characteristics: Thin or obese physique, easily fatigued, sweating easily, prone to palpitations, shortness of breath, and a pale tongue indicating internal qi deficiency.
These individuals are mostly introverted and timid, avoiding risks. They have relatively weak resistance, and once they fall ill, their recovery is slow.
【Yang Deficiency Constitution】 and 【Yin Deficiency Constitution】
These two are presented together because they are opposite. People with a Yang Deficiency Constitution mostly dislike cold, prefer warmth, often have cold hands and feet, feel mentally sluggish; while those with a Yin Deficiency Constitution mostly lack yin energy, experiencing dry mouth, dry skin, thirst, and intolerance to heat.
【Dampness Constitution】
Characteristics: Oily facial skin, obesity, feeling heavy, lethargic, always feeling phlegm in the throat, with a thick coating on the tongue.
People with a dampness constitution are more likely to develop coronary heart disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and those with more abdominal fat are more prone to dampness constitution.
【Damp-Heat Constitution】
Similar to the previous one, both tend to have more oil on the face, but the difference lies in the emphasis on “heat” in the damp-heat constitution. They tend to develop acne easily, have dry mouth and bitter taste, dry stools, burning sensation during urination, and various symptoms of internal heat.
【Qi Stagnation Constitution】
The most typical person with a qi stagnation constitution is Lin Daiyu. With a thin physique, emotionally fragile, frequently experiencing depression, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and insomnia. Prolonged negative emotions can exacerbate the issues related to qi stagnation constitution.
【Blood Stasis Constitution】
A healthy body depends on the smooth flow of qi and blood, but individuals with a blood stasis constitution are prone to bleeding, stroke, coronary heart disease, etc. They may easily experience bleeding, red blood vessels in the eyes. Furthermore, due to blood stasis, the skin lacks nourishment from qi and blood, showing signs of dryness, roughness, and dull complexion.
【Inborn Constitution】
Among the 9 constitutions, this is a more special one, accounting for only about 4.9%. It mostly appears in individuals with hereditary diseases or self-deficiencies. They are sensitive to external factors like pollen, dust, and may also have food allergies. In Western medicine terms, they may be referred to as “allergic constitution.”
After a brief understanding of the 9 constitutions in traditional Chinese medicine, people can now identify their own constitution based on their physical characteristics. Let’s discuss how individuals with different constitutions can maintain health through diet.
Individuals with a Balanced Constitution can follow the “middle path,” eat everything but in moderation. Their daily diet should focus on balanced nutrition, with a variety of foods in small quantities.
For those with a Qi Deficiency Constitution, focusing on benefiting qi is key. They should consume more foods that tonify the spleen and qi, such as white lentils, Chinese yam, jujube, chicken, and avoid foods that damage qi like radish and water spinach.
For individuals with Yang Deficiency and Yin Deficiency constitutions, dietary methods are opposite. Those with Yang Deficiency should focus on nourishing yang qi, consuming foods like scallions, ginger, lamb, eel, leeks to tonify qi and generate yang qi, while reducing cold foods like lotus roots and cucumbers.
On the other hand, those with Yin Deficiency should address the excessive yang issue. They should reduce the aforementioned foods and consume more sweet, cool, and moistening foods like duck, mung beans, winter melon, lily to alleviate symptoms like dry throat and thirst.
Individuals with a Dampness Constitution should avoid foods that promote phlegm production, such as fatty meat and desserts. It is advisable to eat foods like radish, winter melon, kelp, seaweed, kumquat, which aid in resolving phlegm and dampness. They can also use white atractylodes, zedoary, tangerine peel, lotus leaf, and inner gold to regulate the body.
For those with a Damp-Heat Constitution, the aim is to clear heat and dry dampness, benefit the spleen, and disperse dampness. Moderate foods like celery, water spinach, winter melon can be consumed, and ingredients like lotus roots help in reducing heat and eliminating dampness.
Individuals with a Qi Stagnation Constitution should consume foods that promote qi circulation, such as kumquats and hawthorn. However, the most effective measures are not dietary but emotional regulation. Engaging in physical activities, avoiding excessive negative emotions, yields the best results for adjustment.
For those with a Blood Stasis Constitution, diet can help promote blood circulation in the body. Consumption of ingredients such as hawthorn, vinegar, green tea, radish can invigorate blood circulation and dispel stasis, while foods that may cause bloating like sweet potatoes, chestnuts should be reduced. In severe cases, taking Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan can also help regulate the body.
Individuals with an Inborn Constitution should consume foods known to cause allergies sparingly, such as seafood, eggs, milk, and other irritants. They should focus on consuming warm-tonifying, neutral foods like millet, tremella, which are beneficial for the body, especially during autumn and winter seasons, providing better lung and body nourishment.
Traditional Chinese health preservation emphasizes personalized care. By selecting diet therapy methods suitable for different constitutions, individuals can better prevent diseases and enhance health.
