Nine Different Body Types in Chinese Medicine. What is your Body Type?

There are nine different Body Types in Chinese Medicine

Understanding your body constitution can be very helpful for disease prevention and maintain a healthy routine. Body types can vary from person to person, some are strong, some are weak, some tend to be heat, and some tend to be cold. According to the China Association for Traditional Chinese Medicine your body constitution can be divided into nine types. It’s important to know that, sometimes, people have a mixed physical constitution. For example, someone can be cold, dry or damp and hot.

Every human being is the author of his own health or disease. ~ Buddha~

Your body is precious. It is our vehicle for awakening. Treat it with care. ~ Buddha

 1. Neutral type

 Individuals have a strong physique, stable emotional or mental state and feel optimistic. They often present with lustrous complexion and hair, bright eyes, proper senses of smell and taste, red and moisture lips, uneasy to feel fatigue, good sleep and appetite, normal bowel and urinary habits. They are adaptable to environmental changes

Do as usual and keep balance. Suggestions Diet: Varied kinds of food, different energies and flavors are appropriate. It should be noted that long-term improper eating habits will alert the body to a less balanced state that should be avoided.

 2. Qi deficient type

Individuals tend to have flabby muscles, and are introvert and timid in personality. They often present with feeble voice, shortness of breath, fatigue, catching cold or flu easily, sweating and teeth marks in the tongue margin. They are sensitive to environmental changes. Since individuals are relatively weak in immune functioning, it usually takes a longer time for them to recover from illnesses.

Suggestions Diet: Cereal, grain, carrot, mushroom, soybean, peas, potato, pumpkin, beef, fish, chicken, apple, cherry, chestnut and grape, all light and easily digested foods are suitable for them. Citrus fruits, onion, garlic, pepper, tea, alcohol should be taken in moderation.

3. Yang deficient type

Individuals tend to have flabby muscles, and are quiet and introvert in personality. They often complain about cold hands and feet, cold feeling in stomach, sensitive to low temperatures or noises, sleepiness, discomfort after eating cold foods, and a pale and bulky tongue. They often feel uncomfortable in windy, cold and humid environments. They are susceptible to health problems such as puffiness, diarrhea and excess throat secretions.

Suggestions Diet: Warming foods such as ginger, pumpkin, nut, beef, mutton, cherry and raspberry, are suitable for Yang deficiency individuals. Crab, persimmon and melons are not advised.

 4. Yin deficient type

 Individuals usually have a thin physique, and are outgoing and impatient in personality. They like to complain about warm palms and soles, mouth dryness, dry nose, preference for cold drinks, dry stools or constipation. They often feel uncomfortable in hot and dry environments. They are susceptible to cough, fatigue, seminal emission, insomnia, and some chronic conditions.

Suggestions Diet: Celery, mushroom, bean, melon, lettuce, tomato, egg, duck, mussel, fish, pear, apple and pomegranate, are suitable for Yin deficiency individuals.

5. Phlegm & dampness type

 Individuals are usually overweight and have tummy, they have a mild temper, steady and patient personalities. They often present with oily face, sticky or sweet taste in the mouth, excessive throat secretion, sweating, chest stuffiness, preference for sweet and greasy foods, and a thick tongue coating. They often feel uncomfortable in humid and rainy environments. They are susceptible to diabetes, metabolic syndrome or cardiovascular diseases. Susceptible to get wind-stroke, chest pain, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases.

Suggestions Diet: Cabbage, celery, radish, onion, carrot, cucumber, olive, clam and jellyfish, are suitable for Phlegm dampness individuals. Greasy, fatty and sweat foods are not advised. They should not eat too full.

 6. Damp-heat type

 Individuals are either with a normal or thin physique, they tend to be irritable and short-tempered. They often present with an oily face that erupts acne or pimple frequently, a bitter or strength taste in the mouth, fatigue or heaviness of the body, uncompleted feeling after defecation or dry stools, yellow urine, excess vaginal discharges in female, wet scrota in male, and a yellow and greasy tongue coating. They are sensitive to humid and hot environments especially in late summer or early autumn. They are susceptible to skin problems and urinary difficulties.

 Suggestions Diet: Tomato, bean, cucumber, celery, cabbage, kelp, duck, watermelon and banana, are benefit for Dampness heat individuals. Mutton, ginger, chill pepper, and garlic should be limited.

 7. Blood stasis type

 Individuals tend to be impatient and forgetful. They often present with a dull complexion, spots on the face, dark-red lips, dark circles under eyes, lusterless or rough skin, unknown bruise on the body surface, and varicose veins. They often feel uncomfortable in cold environments. They are susceptible to bleedings, painful conditions, and abnormal growths.

 Suggestions Diet: Radish, carrot, onion, celery, eggplant, mushroom, papaya, peach, mango, green tea and wine, are suitable for Blood stasis individuals. Greasy, frozen foods should be limited.

8. Qi stagnation type

 Individuals are mostly thin, and tend to be emotional unstable, melancholy or suspicious. They often present with a depressed mood, being nervous or anxious, timid, frequent sighing, and heart palpitations. They respond relatively poor to stressful situations, especially in winter and autumn and also rainy days. They are susceptible to insomnia, depression, anxiety disorder and breast lumps.

 Suggestions Diet: Radish, onion, garlic, wheat, citrus fruit, seaweed and kelp, are suitable for Qi stagnation individuals. Tea and coffee should be limited.

9. Special constitution type - Idiosyncrasy

 Individuals usually have inborn weakness, they are very sensitive to drugs, foods, smells, pollen or other environmental allergens. They often develop nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, panting, wheals, itchiness and even purple spots or patches under the skin. Common health problems among individuals are drug allergies, hay fever, eczema and asthma. They respond relatively poor to external influences, and their health problems can easily be induced by seasonal changes.

 Light and balance diet are benefit for Idiosyncrasy individuals. Suggestions Diet: honey, carrot, needle mushroom are highly recommended. High-protein foods, alcohol, chill pepper, coffee, tea and buckwheat should be avoided.