1

Body Constitution Theory

2

Broadly

speaking, Body

Constitutions refer

to the individual

differences that

exist among us.

What is Body Constitutions ？

3

Our gender, age, characteristics and living environment contributes to differences.

We are all different!

4

O Our growing and aging process are

inevitably affected by the natural and

social environment.

O These environmental changes also shape

our physique, physical and psychological

reactions.

O These changes manifested relatively

stable in the way we interact with

the others and the environment and

form our body constitutions.

5

Physiological Basis of Constitution

OConstitution means the relatively constantly comprehensive characteristic in morphological structure, physiological function and mental activities, which is determined by hereditary and acquired factors in the life process of the individual.

6

The human body is composed of tissue organs such as the

viscera, meridians, body and orifices, and the basic

substances such as essence, qi, blood, body fluid, which maintain

the normal life activities.

Physiological Basis of Constitution

7

Physiological Basis of Constitution

OThe difference in constitution expressed through tissue organs of human body is the actual reflection of deviant conditions of qi, blood, yin and yang of the viscera and difference of functional activity.

8

Physiological Basis of Constitution

OThe viscera are the center in constituting and maintaining the life activities of the human body.

OThe difference on constitution reflects partial or all characteristics of various essentials composing human body by taking the viscera as its center.

9

Relationship between constitution and viscera

OThe kidney and spleen have more obvious effects on determining the constitution of the human body.

OAmple innate essence is the prerequisite for growing up healthily and having powerful vitality.

10

Relationship between constitution and viscera

O If the innate essence gets deficient, it will result in not only growth retardation, but also easy contraction of disease.

O The process of a person’s growth, development and senility is the evolutionary process in which taking the essence-qi of the kidney as the basic material to trigger and propel the functions of viscera.

11

Relationship between constitution and viscera

O The spleen and stomach are the key acquired factor in the formation of the constitution.

O A person with a shortage of the innate endowment can improve his constitution with the aid of replenishment from foodstuffs.

O On the contrary, although with a good innate foundation, if a person is in lack of replenishment after birth, he can hardly maintain his health.

12

Relationship between constitution and meridians

O The constitution is not only determined by the strong or weak functional activities of the viscera, but also dependent on their coordination.

O The meridians are the structural foundation that communicate and coordinate the functions of the viscera

O The viscera reside inside and their functions manifest outside, the constitution shows through the exterior morphological characteristic.

13

Relationship between constitution and essence, qi, blood and body fluid

O The conditions of the body’s essence-qi, blood, body fluid and their distribution and circulation in the body determine the strengths/weaknesses of the constitution.

O Age does affect the abundance or deficiency of essence and the constitution of the old is generally characterized by essence deficiency.

14

Climate & Environment

Weather DietStructure

Living Environment

Lifestyle

Geographical/Personal Factors

Contributes to the formation of different body constitutions

DietStructure

Living Environment

15

Factors Affecting

Constitution

16

Factors Contributing to Different Constitutions

O Natural Endowment:

The condition of natural endowment is closely related with the quality of reproductive essence of parents such as their body constitutions, the blood relative, age of reproduction, maternal conditions, and fetal nourishment during pregnancy.

17

Natural Endowment1.1 Parents’ Body Constitution:O If the constitution of parents is strong, the

children constitution would also be strong. O A mother who has healthy and vital essence, qi

and blood would likely to be conceived easily and the baby’s constitution would also be robust.

O However, if the constitution of parents is deficient in essence, qi and blood, the next generation would also be weak.

O Furthermore, some hereditary diseases also can be transmitted by the parents to the children.

18

Natural Endowment1.2 Blood relative of parents:O Close kin-ship between parents increases the risks

of constitution defect, mental retardation, or any form of growth defects and affect seriously the child’s body constitution.

1.3 The marriage and reproductive age of parents:O The constitution of a person changes with his age.O It is advisable for the parents to marry and

reproduce when they have abundant essence, qi and blood.

O With essence gradually reduced in old age, the constitution of their offspring may be less strong.

19

Natural Endowment1.4 Pregnancy Care:O The maternal health condition during

pregnancy influences not only the growth and development of the fetus directly, but also the constitution after birth.

O Maternal diseases during pregnancy can also influence the growth of fetus and the child’s constitution.

O Hence, pregnant female should stay physically and mentally healthy during the pregnancy to cultivate health and strong fetus.

20

DietO A rational and balanced dietary habit is an

important guarantee in maintaining and improving the physique.

O As people vary from people, the living condition and the dietary habit are difference and would give rise to different constitution

1. Over-hungry and over-eating: both undesirable dietary habits would affect a person’s constitution.

O Overconsumption of fatty, sweet and oily food 肥甘厚味 would cause a person’s body constitution to have phlegm retention.

O Simple diet likely to avoid developing a biased body constitution.

21

Diet2. Imbalanced Diet: refers to excessively indulging in certain food, prefer hot or cold food or addicts to one of the five flavors or adopting a irrational and imbalanced diet structure.O Such a dietary structure in the long run would

cause biasedness of the body constitution.O For example, indulging in taking sweet stuff

would generate phlegm and dampness and prone to developing a phlegm-dampness body constitution and such a constitution is more prone to developing diabetic.

22

O Factor of Gender

-Male and Female have vast differences in terms of visceral structure, physiological, psychological characteristics and sexual differences.- Male mostly shows disorder of qi and female shows the disorder of blood.-Female’s constitution also change during menstruation, pregnancy and etc.- The defect of constitution in male mainly show them more susceptible to pathogens, contract diseases and with more pathological changers and higher mortality.

23

O Factor of Age- Constitutions change with the changes of age.- Children easily get deficient or excess syndrome and cold or heat syndrome in pathology.- Youth is the stage of strong physique, powerful viscera functions, sufficient qi-blood and low sufferings from disease.-As age increases, normal constitutions become abnormal/biased types of constitution.

24

O Emotional Factor-A harmonious emotional activity makes the circulation of qi-blood smooth, visceral function coordinated and the constitution strong.- A drastic or prolonged emotional stimulus that exceeds one’s physiological regulatory ability will cause impairment of qi-blood and dysfunction of the viscera, resulting in negative influence on the constitution.- Qi-depression and Qi-Stagnation are situations of undesirable mental and emotional states.

25

Geographical FactorsO “In each region people there have

their own special characteristics”.（一方水土养一方人）

O People in different regions adopt different lifestyle and habits and among them, dietary habit has the strongest impact.

26

Social FactorsO Over wealth or over poverty influence body

constitutions.O Economic developments bring forth prosperity

and also environmental pollution.O Changed thinking affects life and value system.O Nature of occupation, work environment, labor

intensity, income, social status do play a part in influencing one’s body constitution.

O Environmental pollution, incidence of epidemic diseases and eruption of war and natural disasters also lead to changing of body constitution.

27

Disease, Acupuncture, Medicine and other factors

O A disease can accelerate the change of constitution as it can impair the body’s qi, blood and yin-yang balances, especially the chronic diseases.

O Improper application of acupuncture, medicine and other treatment methods will aggravate the damage of constitution, resulting in bias qi-blood and yin-yang balances.

O Late marriage ,child-birth, indulging in sexual pleasures, improper exercise also contribute to changing of body constitution.

28

The 9 Different Body Constitutions Types

Balanced Type平和质

Qi-Deficient Type 气虚质

Yang-Deficient Type 阳虚质

Yin-Deficient

Type 阴虚质Phlegm-Damp

Type 痰湿质

Damp-Heat Type 湿热质

Blood-StagnationType 瘀血质

Qi-Stagnation Type 气郁质

Allegic/Congenital Disorder Type 过敏质 / 先天缺陷

29

Balanced

Yin-Deficiency

Qi-Deficiency

Qi-Stagnation

Dampness-Heat

Phlegm-Dampness

Blood Stagnation

Yang-Deficiency

Allegic/CongenitalDisorder

Recent Classification

s

30

Summary of Balanced Body Constitutions

Balanced yin-yang,

qi and blood

Adequate

essence

Strong qi Vitality

31

Characteristics of Qi-Deficiency Body Constitution

Insufficient

Original Qi

Short breath

Excessive perspiration

Easily frightened

Lassitude

32

Yang-Deficiency

Insufficient Yang qi

Intolerant to cold

flabby muscle

Prefer stillness and

quiet

Aversion to cold

33

Yin-Deficiency

Insufficient Fluid

Dry

Hot

Short-tempered

lean

34

Phlegm-Dampness

Accumulation of phlegm and

dampness

Potbellied

Sticky tongue coating

Steady

Obese

35

Phlegm-Heat

Accumulation of phlegm

and heat

Acne

Bitter mouth

Agitated

Oily complexion

36

Blood Stasis

Blood stagnation

Bruises

Pain

Agitated

Dull-complexio

n

37

Qi-Stagnation

Qi-Stagnati

on

Low spirit

Bloatedsensation

Anxious

Worried

38

Allergy/Congenital Disorder

Heredity abnorma

lSensitive reaction

Physical handicap

Damp-Heat Type

OWomen have yellow vaginal discharge ， men’s scrotum often wet.

OUrine often yellowish. OOften have sticky stool. OSticky sweat, wet palms and soles.OOften feel bitter mouth, bad breath or mouth odor .

AllergicType

OThe skin often appear purple blood spots due to allergies.

OSkin often shows red scratches.OVulnerable to get skin rashes.OAllergy to medicines, foods, odors, change of weather.

OOften have dry mouth and throat.ODry eyes.OFlushing or reddish face ， Often feel the body or the face feverish.

OOften feel feverish sensation in soles, pals and chest.

OOften have dry stool .

Yin-Deficient

Blood-Stasis

ODark complexion or pigmentation ，dark eyes areas, pigmentation.

OVulnerable to experience variety of pains.

ODry, rough skin.OSubcutaneous hemorrhage （皮下出

血） ,the gums bleed easily when brushing teeth.

OBloodshot eyes.

Phlegm-Damp

OMouth often feel sticky or sweet.

OOften noticed swelling eyes.OOften feel heavy body limbs.OUsually have lots of phlegm.OSticky sweat, wet palms and soles.

Yang-Difficient

OFeel uncomfortable after drinking cooling stuff.

OWear more clothes than others.OStomach area often feels cold.OOften have cold limbs. OOften have loose stool, clear urine color and abundant volume.

Qi-deficient

OFeel shortness of breath easily.OPrefers to stay quiet, often speaks with a low, frail voice.

OOften perspires.OVulnerable to cold.OOften have stuffy nose, sneezing, runny nose, easily contracted flu.

OOften feel tired and weak.OPrefers to stay quiet, often speaks with a low, frail voice.

OFeel shortness of breath easily.

Qi-Stagnant

OThroat often have clogging sensation. OEasily tensed, flustered, palpitation, anxious, insomnia.

OOften feel depressed , low mood and sigh for no apparent reason.

OSentimental ， frail emotions, easily frightened

OOften feel pain on the breasts and on both sides of the flank.