Body constitution in traditional herbal medicine refers to the comprehensive and relatively stable inherent characteristics of the human body in terms of morphological structure, physiological function and psychological state formed on the basis of innate endowment and acquired characteristics during the life process of the human body.

It is the human personality characteristics formed during the growth and development process of human beings that are adapted to the natural and social environment.

Thus if we know our body constitution now, we may make proper maintenance to our body to achieve perfect health. We may even repair our body if the damage is still relatively small.

Thus let us find out what our body constitution is, and how we may start a maintenance program to achieve perfect health. Then we will be far away from the doctor, medication, surgery, and hospital. Furthermore, we will be able to live actively and independently without nursing care.

01 Uses of the classification

We will start with the identification of our body constitution. Then we will go into the maintenance guidance plan aimed at the prevention, treatment, and health management of illnesses related to the body constitution thus identified.

The plan embodies the idea of “treating the illness before it is too late” prevalent in traditional herbal medicine thinking. The guidance plan is a proven effective way to “treat the illness before it is too late.”

Methods and important approaches are conducive to the implementation of individualized diagnosis and treatment, conducive to improving the health quality of the person, and play an important role in the prevention and treatment of chronic non-communicable diseases.

02 The classification types

The body constitution identification and maintenance guidance specifically refers to determining the physical attributes of an individual through body constitution identification, and then aiming at a completely balanced constitution as the objective of health preservation.

Thus, as practitioners of life cultivation, if we practice daily on body identification and maintenance following a guidance, then we will be able to routinely perform maintenance of health on ourselves, adjusting our body constitution to its ideal norm through routine maintenance techniques.

In the year 2009, the China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine released the “Classification and Determination of Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution” and formulated the “Classification and Determination Table of Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution”, which provides methods, tools and evaluation systems for the quantitative identification of traditional Chinese medicine constitution.

The body constitution is divided into nine basic types.
Type A, balanced constitution
Type B, qi-deficiency constitution
Type C, yang-deficiency constitution
Type D, yin-deficiency constitution
Type E, phlegm-dampness constitution
Type F, damp-heat constitution
Type G, blood-stasis constitution
Type H, qi-stagnation constitution
Type I, special constitution

Each body constitution has its own unique characteristics which we will explore later.

The judgment standard determines the balanced body constitution as the normal constitution and the other eight constitutions as deviations from the norm. The judgment results are then quantitatively graded.

The balanced constitution is divided into three levels: yes, basically yes and no. Thus, we may say that yes, we definitely have a balanced constitution, or, yes, we basically have a balanced constitution, or, no, we do not have a balanced constitution.

If we do not have a balanced constitution, then we have one of the constitutions that are deviations from the balanced constitution.

Likewise, the deviated constitution is divided into three levels: yes, inclinationally yes and no. Thus, we may say that, yes, we have a type B constitution, or, yes, we inclinationally have a type B constitution, or, no, we do not have a type B constitution.

Relevant maintenance guidance programs have been formulated according to various body constitutions. Thus, once we have determined which type of body constitution we have, we will be able to do regular maintenance to our constitution to return it back to the balanced one.

Maintenance guidance for a Type F damp-heat body constitution

As practitioners of life cultivation, we only focus on our own body constitution, and learn how to adjust our body constitution so that it will become a balanced body constitution resulting in a healthy and happy state.

First of all, we try to determine what type of body constitution we have, then we will follow a maintenance guidance plan to do the necessary adjustment so that we will have a balanced body constitution. The guidance plan is proposed by a Board of Professional Herbal Medicine Practitioners.

If we have a type F damp-heat body constitution, this is the guidance plan for it.

If we have a type F body constitution, it means that we have excessive dampness and heat in our body. What does it mean and what do we do with it?

01 Overview

01 Definition

It is a physical state characterized by inherent dampness and heat in our body.

02 Causes

The probable causes are (1) innate endowment or hereditary, (2) living in wetlands for a long period of time, (3) eating a rich and sweet diet for a long period of time or (4) drinking alcohol for a long period of time, resulting in excessive internal dampness and heat.

03 Visible physical characteristics

Overall characteristics: Intrinsic dampness and heat, mainly characterized by the manifestations of dampness and heat such as shiny face, bitter taste, yellow and greasy coating.

Physical characteristics: Medium or thin body.

Common symptoms: greasy and shiny face, prone to acne, bitter mouth and dry mouth, weight and drowsiness, sticky or dry stools, short and yellow urine, men tend to have moist scrotum, women tend to have increased vaginal discharge, red tongue, yellow and greasy coating, slippery pulse.

Psychological characteristics: easily irritable.

Incidence tendency: prone to have scabies, jaundice, hot gonorrhea and related diseases.

Adaptability to the external environment: difficult to adapt to the hot and humid climate of late summer and early autumn, heavy humidity or high temperature.

02 Guidance plan

The general guidance plan is offered by a Board of Professional Herbal Medicine Practitioners for the general public. Each individual is advised to seek professional help at the beginning to make sure he is following the right plan the right way.

01 Basic principles

Basic principles are three: (1) perform strengthening exercise, (2) eat light food, and (3) use clear medicine.

01 Perform strengthening exercise

People with hot and humid constitution should do a large volume of high-intensity exercise on a consistent basis.

Movement of the body accelerates the circulation of qi and blood. Movement of qi causes (1) phlegm and dampness to be eliminated, and heat evil to dissipate. Thus, strenuous exercise is mandatory for type F constitution.

02 Eat a light diet

This mainly means that the diet should be light and bland. Greasy and hot foods should be avoided. This will clear away heat and remove dampness and avoid aggravating dampness and heat building up.

03 Use clear medicine

If herbal medicine is used, it is used to clear away heat and dampness, such as peilan, yinchen, coix seed, alisma, etc.

As stated in Huangdi Neijing, Su Wen Zhi Zhen Yao Da Lun: “Dispel heat with coldness” and “Reduce excess with dispeling”

However, we should be careful not to overuse bitter and cold medicines. They should be supplemented with a small amount of warming medicines to prevent damage to the spleen and buildup of dampness.

02 Living environment

As practitioners of life cultivation, we pay great attention to our living environment, especially the seasonal changes.

Go to bed early and get up early in spring, go to bed late and get up early and take a nap appropriately in summer, go to bed early and get up early in autumn, and go to bed early and get up late in winter.

During the bright and sunny season, do more outdoor activities and bask in the sun.

During the hot and humid season, reduce outdoor activities and avoid exposure to coldness, rain, heat and humidity.

Keep the room dry.

Wear clothings that is loose and made of natural fibers such as cotton, linen and silk.

Sleeping and lying in accordance with the four seasons: health care should be adjusted according to the changes of yin and yang in the four seasons, and follow the laws of nature to obtain nourishment from heaven and earth.

The biological clock in the human body is consistent with the day and night laws of nature. Arranging work and rest in accordance with the laws of nature is beneficial to the health of the body. The four seasons are characterized by warm spring, hot summer, cool autumn, and cold winter. Organisms also have corresponding changes in spring sprouts, summer growth, autumn harvest, and winter storage.

The work and rest time of the four seasons should be different according to the relationship between yin and yang in the seasons.

“Nourish yang in spring and summer” means that we should go to bed early and get up early in spring, and go to bed late and get up early in summer. Because the days are long and the nights are short in summer, we should take an appropriate nap;

“Nourish yin in autumn and winter” means that we should go to bed early and get up early in autumn, and go to bed early and get up late in winter.

With a damp-heat body constitution, we should keep our rooms dry, cool, hygienic and ventilated. We should also dry our clothes and quilts frequently. We should wear loose clothing, preferably cotton, linen and silk fabrics, which help with ventilation, heat dissipation and perspiration. We will try to avoid tight pants or chemical fiber underwear.

Exercise can help regulate our qi circulation and dispel heat and moisture. However, we should be careful not to exercise during hot and humid weather to avoid exchange of internal and external heat and humidity.

03 Body movement via Mustang shenzhan technique

With a damp-heat body constitution, we must follow a rigorous fitness program on a long-term basis.

On our website, we offer the following stretching exercises for those of us who dislike outdoor activities.

Taiji is an all-around stretching exercise that combines breathing with movement of the body. It is elegant, simple and has a lot of health efficacies.

The 8-brocade (baduanjin) exercise is much simpler than taiji. It is good for older people who want to simplify life. It has the same health efficacies as taiji.

The stance exercises are much simpler. We just need to stand still and follow our breathing. Nothing is simpler than these.

There are more exercises for you to choose on the website. You choose what you like so that you will persist in doing it on a daily basis.

For those of us who like the outdoors, or if we like to do it with other people, we may choose walking, brisk walking, jogging, race walking, mountain climbing, swimming, cycling, fitness dance, rope skipping, aerobics, etc.

With a type F boy constitution, exercise should be done away from rain, fog, and hot weather.

Some of us will practice the hu and hee sounds from the air blowing technique.

With a damp-heat body constitution, we should continue to practice stretching exercises from the Mustang shenzhan technique repertoire consistently. It will help to regulate qi, strengthen the spleen and help transport moisture in the body.

Mountain climbing, cycling, rope skipping, aerobics and other high-intensity exercises can consume excess heat in the body, excrete excess water, and achieve the purpose of clearing away heat and dampness.

Practicing the hu and hee sound in the air blowing technique also has the effects of strengthening the spleen, clearing away heat and removing dampness.

04 Mental Adjustment via Mustang tuna technique

Participate in as many social activities as possible and cultivate a wide range of interests and hobbies.

Pay attention to overcoming impatience and maintaining a stable mentality.

It is not advisable to overthink when things happen, to think openly and let go, and to be less sulky and less careless.

Dampness and heat are most likely to accumulate in the liver and gallbladder, leading to depression and irritability. Thus, with a damp-heat body constitution, we should focus on having a peaceful mind and avoid all situations that break our peaceful mind. We may follow the methods of “tranquility and nothingness” or “keeping the spirit within.” .

Cultivating a wide range of interests and hobbies such as reading, writing, painting, playing the piano, fishing, flower gardening may help disperse excess energy, cultivate our temperament, exercise patience, and stabilize our mentality.

When we are troubled and depressed, we should quickly shift our attention. In order to do this, we may talk to our friends more to relieve bad emotions.

We should be more tolerant to others, be kind to others, and not be angry or care about frivolous little things.

05 Mustang dietary technique

Some foods are better than others in dispelling dampness from our body.

We recommmend red beans, adzuki beans, mung beans, coix kernels, celery, cucumber, winter melon, lotus root, shepherd’s purse and similar foods.

We may also eat bitter melon, chicory, watermelon, poria, and crucian carp in lesser amounts because they tend to be cool or cold in natural properties.

We should avoid spicy, pungent, warm and greasy foods. Thus we should eat less leeks, hot peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, ginger and mutton. We should also eat less fatty meat, catfish, stick cakes and other sticky foods. They tend to add dampness to the body.

You should also eat less sweet and sour foods such as caramel, pomegranate, jujube, and grapefruit to avoid being greasy and addicted to dampness, which will make it difficult to discharge dampness and heat from our body.

We should also eat less foods prepared with hot pot, fried, or barbecued. They tend to add heat to the body.

We may drink dianthus tea or kuding tea. We may drink soup made from lotus seed cores, lotus leaves, bamboo leaves, or corn silk. They may help to clear away heat and dampness.

Our foods should be cooked with less oil and salt.

06 Medication technique

The information of this part of the guidance plan is intentionally left blank for general public reading. Those who want to read it may request the information by email.

07 Music adjustment

With a damp-heat body constitution, it is best that we often listen to some leisurely and gentle music.

With a type F body constitution, we are prone to restlessness, so we should listen to leisurely and gentle music, such as Serenade, Lullaby or some Chinese classical music that are performed on musical instruments called guqin and xiao, in order to soothe our mind.

08 Mustang tuina technique

With a type F damp-heat body constitution, performing therapies such as cupping at dazhui acupoint, or scraping of the du meridian or bladder meridian will help to dispel dampness and heat from our body.

Alternatively, massage the yinlingquan acupoint, quchi acupoint and other related acupoints will help to relieve dampness and heat.

01 Yinlingquan acupoint

Belongs to the spleen meridian.

Location: On the inner side of the calf, in the depression behind and below the medial condyle of the tibia.

Symptoms: Abdominal distension and diarrhea, edema, jaundice, difficulty urinating or incontinence, knee pain.

Efficacy: Clear away dampness and heat, invigorate the spleen and regulate qi, nourish the kidneys and regulate menstruation, stimulate menstruation and activate collaterals.

02 Quchi acupoint

Belongs to the large intestine meridian.

Location: Bend the elbow at a right angle, at the midpoint of the line connecting the outer end of the elbow crease and the lateral epicondyle of the humerus.

Symptoms: Sore throat, toothache, red and painful eyes, scrofula, addiction rash, fever, upper limb paralysis, arm swelling and pain, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, high blood pressure, and madness.

Efficacy: clearing away heat and nourishing the blood, lowering inverse conditions and activating collaterals.

03 Dazhui acupoint

Belongs to the du meridian.

Location: On the posterior midline, in the depression under the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra.

Symptoms : Exogenous diseases such as fever, cold, cough, asthma, headache, malaria, madness, infantile convulsions, etc.

Efficacy: Invigorate the human body’s energy, strengthen the body and maintain health, unblock yang and relieve external symptoms, dispel wind and coldness, reduce fever andreturn calmness.

03 A brief summary

Check what type of body constitution you have. If you have a type F damp-heat body constitution, the first thing you want to do is to eat what is good for you. You have to eat in any event, so you might as well eat what will adjust your body constitution back to normal.

As far as the living environment, you should live according to the seasonal changes. With a type F body constitution, you have excess heat and dampness, so be sure to avoid damp and moisture environments.

With a type F body constitution, you should exercise vigorously and persistently in order to get rid of dampness and heat from your body through exercises.

If you use physical therapies, the best choice is cupping. It has been used by an Olympic gold swimmer from the United States.

All in all, once you follow the guidance plan here, you will adjust your body constitution from type F back to type A, the balanced type.

In our next article, we will focus on Type G blood-stasis body constitution, on its classification and maintenance. Stay tuned.

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