(Last Updated on November 19, 2024 by Amiee)
Traditional Chinese medicine divides different Chinese people into nine different physiques according to the yin, yang, and five elements. Understanding and familiarizing yourself with your physique and making corresponding dietary adjustments are of great help to gaining health. What needs to be understood is that a person does not necessarily have only one constitution, it may also be a mixture of several physiques.
- Yang deficiency constitution（阳虚质）
Characteristics
The body is white and fat, and the muscles are not strong; Usually lack of spirit, fear of cold, always cold hands and feet; Love hot drinks and food; Hair is easy to fall, urine is clear and long, loose stools.
Diet
The diet mainly focuses on warming the spleen and kidneys. It is advisable to eat more foods that warm the spleen and kidneys, such as lamb, dog meat, canava beans, walnuts, chestnuts, leeks, and fennel. Avoid raw cold melons and fruit and greasy products, even in midsummer. Don’t be greedy for cold drinks.
2. Yin deficiency constitution（阴虚质）
Characteristics
Usually easy to dry mouth and throat, like cold drinks; flushing complexion, often feel hot hands and feet; dry eyes, dim vision, easy to insomnia; dry skin, prone to wrinkles; short urine, dry stool; slightly dry lips.
Diet
Eat more foods that nourish yin and yang, such as turtles, soft-shelled turtles, milk, duck meat, pig skin, lilies, and ebony plums. Eat less fat, sweet, greasy, spicy, and dry products. Scallions, ginger, garlic, and other warm condiments should also be eaten sparingly. People with yin deficiency tend to have dry stools, and they can insist on waking up in the morning on an empty stomach to replenish water, eat more vegetables and fruits, add coarse grains such as brown rice and whole wheat to the food, and pay attention to develop good bowel habits. Elderly people or those with constipation can also take intestinal laxatives, such as Maziren Pills, Wuren Pills, etc. to help with defecation.
3. phlegmatic hydrolysis constitution（痰湿质）
Characteristics
The biggest characteristic of people with phlegm and dampness is that they are “wide-hearted and fat,” with a soft and fat abdomen. Facial skin is oily, sweaty, and sticky; chest tightness, phlegm; pale yellow or dull complexion, easy to drowsiness; normal or inaccurate stool, little or slightly mixed urination.
Diet
The diet should be light, focusing on resolving phlegm and dampness, and more intake of foods that can promote lung, invigorate the spleen, kidney, dampness, and Tongli Triple Burner, such as wax gourd, lotus leaf, hawthorn, red bean, lentil, etc. People with obese phlegm and dampness should eat less fat, sweet, and greasy products.
4. Damp heat constitution（湿热质）
Characteristics
The body is fat or thin, the face and nose are always shiny and shiny, and they are prone to acne. You can smell peculiar smells when you open your mouth; they are prone to bitter mouth, dry mouth, body drowsiness, upset and slack, red eyes; sticky stools, Yellow urine; and irritable personality.
Diet
The diet is based on clearing benefits and removing dampness, such as coix seeds, lotus seeds, poria, mung beans, duck meat, crucian carp, wax gourd, bitter gourd, and so on. Spicy and hot products such as chili, dog meat, beef, mutton, and other warm products are contraindicated. Eat less fried and barbecued products, quit smoking, and limit alcohol.
5. Qi deficiency constitution（气虚质）
Characteristics
The muscles of people with Qi deficiency are generally not strong, usually short of breath, lazy and boring to speak; Frequent sweating; Faint mouth, dizziness, and forgetfulness. People with Qi deficiency are prone to cold, weak disease resistance after illness, and difficulty recovering.
Diet
You can choose products that invigorate the spleen and qi, such as millet, japonica rice, lentils, pork belly, yellow croaker, cauliflower, carrots, mushrooms, etc. Most people with Qi deficiency have weak spleen and stomach, and their diet should be light and easy to digest, and avoid greasy food. If necessary, they can choose to use a qi-invigorating medicated diet for recuperation.
6. Blood Stasis constitution（血淤质）
Characteristics
Most of them are thin people with dull complexion or hyperpigmentation. The skin often has ecchymosis unknowingly and is prone to pain; skin is often dry and rough, and gums are prone to bleeding when brushing teeth. There are often red threads in the eyes, often pain, easy to be irritable, forgetful, and impatient.
Diet
The diet is based on promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, such as hawthorn, rape, papaya, kumquat, black fungus, onion, and so on.
For non-drinking taboos, you can drink wine in moderation to promote blood circulation. Eat less fat, sweet, and tasteful products.
7. Qi-stagnation constitution（气滞质）
Characteristics
Most people are thin, usually melancholic; sentimental, melancholic, fragile, sensitive, and suspicious; often depressed, easily flustered, and insomnia.
Diet care
The food is mainly based on qi and qi, such as kumquat, tangerine peel, bergamot, barley, concanavalin, radish, chrysanthemum, and roses. You can drink a small amount of alcohol on weekdays to clear the blood and excite your emotions.
8. Inherited Special constitution（特禀质）
Characteristics
They are allergic to pollen or something; the skin is prone to hives; even if it is not a cold, it often has features such as sneezing and runny nose.
Diet care
The diet should be light, avoid eating allergic foods, and avoid raw cold, spicy, fatty glycerin, wine, fish, shrimp, crab, eggs, milk,. and other “fat”(发物)
9. Balanced constitution（平和质）
Characteristics
Balanced people generally have a well-balanced and robust body, and a smooth complexion and skin color, Red lips, Energetic, sleep well, Cheerful personalities, and not prone to disease.
Diet care
The first principle of dietary care is a balanced diet, which requires diversification of food and reflects the overall view of traditional Chinese dietary balance. Attention should also be paid to the harmony of odors. The food is given according to the season, and the appropriate diet should be selected according to the season. It is not advisable to eat cold or hot foods too much to maintain the balance of Yin and Yang in the body and protect health.
