Author: Khor Sea Moon (President of APAM)
Translated by: Karen Ku & Kathryn Wong (EXCO Members of APAM)
Body constitution in TCM is an important manifestation of human’s daily living. It refers to the comprehensive and relatively stable characteristics of morphological structure, physiological function and psychological state formed innately or acquired. TCM has the saying “treating the same disease with different methods; treating different diseases with the same method”, which means to treat a disease by identifying the body constitution, which varies by individuals. The TCM body constitution identification is used to identify body types and to provide the basis for disease prevention, health care and health management. This reflects the TCM ideology on preventive treatment of disease, which is an effective and important method. The individualized diagnosis and treatment play an irreplaceable role in the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases in modern medicine.
The Classification and Determination of TCM Constitutions published by the China Association of Chinese Medicine in 2009, listed the 9 basic types of TCM body constitutions: Neutral, Qi-deficiency, Yang-deficiency, Yin-deficiency, Phlegm-dampness, Heaty-dampness, Blood Stasis, Qi-stagnation, and Special constitution. Each body constitution has its own characteristics in respect of physical signs and symptoms, physiological and psychological characteristics, pathological reaction, health risks, etc., and can integrate with the aromatherapy of holistic healing.
Aromatherapy refers to using the aroma emitted by the aromatic essential oils, or combined with massage to reap the therapeutic benefits on physical and psychological diseases. It was developed based on traditional medical theories from the East and the West. Being a branch of herbology, it has been well accepted by many people for its natural properties and the therapeutic effects of natural plants. Although aromatherapy was originated in Europe and its use was more influenced by traditional Western herbology, but it was limited to the functions and application methods. Comparatively, TCM theory has a more profound clinical guiding significance for aromatherapy.
- Neutral body constitutionOverall characteristics: harmonized Yin, Yang, Qi and Blood, moderate build, rosy complexion and energetic.
Health risks: rarely fall sick.
Aromatherapy blend: marjoram 2 drops, cedarwood 1 drop, sweet orange 2 drops, lavender 3 drops, sweet almond oil 20ml, jojoba oil 10ml
Diffuser blend for emotional balance: marjoram 1 drop + cedarwood 1 drop + sweet orange 2 drops
Acupoint for health maintenance: Zusanli, Qihai
- Qi-deficiency body constitutionOverall characteristics: lack of vitality, fatigue, shortness of breath, regular perspiration.
Physical characteristics: flappy muscles.
Psychological characteristics: introvert, risks averse.
Health risks: heart and lung diseases, asthma, etc.
Aromatherapy blend: jasmine 8 drops, clove 6 drops, cedarwood 6 drops, sandalwood 5 drops, eucalyptus 5 drops, grapeseed oil 24ml and evening primrose oil 6ml
Diffuser blend for emotional balance: clary sage 2 drops + sweet orange 1 drop
Acupoint for health maintenance: Zusanli, Guanyuan, Qihai, Shenque
- Yang-deficiency body constitutionOverall characteristics: insufficient yang, fear of cold, cold hands and feet.
Physical characteristics: weak muscles.
Psychological characteristics: quiet personality, introvert.
Health risks: prone to have phlegm, swelling, diarrhoea and other illnesses; prone to catching cold.
Ability to adapt to external environment: cope better in summer than winter; susceptible to wind, cold and dampness.
Aromatherapy blend: rose 3 drops, ylang-ylang 5 drops, ginger 8 drops, myrrh 6 drops, frankincense 4 drops, clary sage 4 drops, grapeseed oil 26ml and evening primrose oil 4ml
Diffuser blend for emotional balance: marjoram 2 drops + cedarwood 1 drop + sweet orange2 drops
Acupoint for health maintenance: Zusanli, Mingmen, Shenshu
- Yin-deficiency body constitutionOverall characteristics: Yin fluid deficiency, dry mouth and throat, warm hand, foot and heart.
Physical characteristics: thin build.
Signs & Symptoms: warm hand, foot and heart, dry mouth and throat, slightly dry nose, prefer cold drinks, dry stool, red and dry tongue, soft pulse.
Psychological characteristics: irritable, outgoing and energetic.
Health risks: prone to have fatigue, loss of Jing (essence), insomnia and other diseases; easily feel heaty.
Aromatherapy blend: ylang-ylang 3 drops, myrrh 3 drops, frankincense 6 drops, jasmine 5 drops, cedarwood 6 drops, sandalwood 3 drops, eucalyptus 5 drops, lemon 5 drops, grapeseed oil 24ml + evening primrose oil 6ml
Diffuser blend for emotional balance: geranium 3 drops + lavender 1 drop + clary sage 1 drop
Acupoint for health maintenance: Xuehai, Neiguan
- Qi-stagnation body constitutionOverall characteristics: Qi is stagnated and manifested as depression, anxiety, worrisome and vulnerable.
Physical characteristics: mostly slim build.
Signs & Symptoms: depressed, emotional, moody, light red tongue, thin white tongue coating, long and tensed pulse.
Psychological characteristics: introvert and unstable, sensitive and anxious.
Health risks: prone to irritable Zang-organs, “Plum Pit Qi” (Meihe Qi), “Lily syndrome” (Baihe Bing) and depression, etc.
Aromatherapy blend: ginger 5 drops, sweet orange 6 drops, peppermint 4 drops, lavender 8 drops, cinnamon 3 drops, cypress 4 drops, grapeseed oil 24ml + evening primrose oil 6ml
Diffuser blend for emotional balance: lavender 2 drops + clary sage 1 drop + roman chamomile 1 drop
Acupoint for health maintenance: Sanyinjiao, Taichong, Tanzhongxue
- Heaty-dampness body constitutionOverall characteristics: inner body dampness and heaty, oily skin, bitter taste in mouth, yellow and greasy tongue coating.
Physical characteristics: medium or skinny build.
Signs & Symptoms: oily skin, prone to acne, dry mouth and bitter taste in mouth, tired, sticky or dry stool, short and yellow urine, men – damp scrotal, women – excessive vaginal discharge, reddish tongue, yellow and greasy coating, smooth flowing pulse.
Psychological characteristics: easily upset and irritable.
Health risks: prone to acne, jaundice, heat gonorrhoea.
Aromatherapy blend: lemon 5 drops, cinnamon 7 drops, peppermint 5 drops, fennel 8 drops, citronella 5 drops, grapeseed oil 24ml + evening primrose oil 6ml
Diffuser blend for emotional balance: bergamot 3 drops + sandalwood 2 drops + geranium 1 drop
Acupoint for health maintenance: Yinlingquan, Yanglingquan
- Phlegm-dampness body constitutionOverall characteristics: combination of phlegm and dampness features, overweight with flabby belly, sticky mouth with greasy coating.
Physical characteristics: fat body, soft belly.
Signs & Symptoms: oily face, sweaty and sticky, tight chest, develop phlegm frequently, sticky and sweet taste in mouth, prefer fat, sweet and sticky food, greasy tongue coating, smooth flowing pulse.
Psychological characteristics: gentle and steady character, high tolerance.
Health risks: prone to having diabetes, stroke, chest pain, etc.
Aromatherapy blend: bergamot 5 drops, clary sage 8 drops, black pepper 6, grapefruit 5 drops, juniper 6 drops, sweet almond oil 29ml + jojoba oil 1ml
Diffuser blend for emotional balance: geranium 1 drop, bergamot 2 drops, grapefruit 2 drops
Acupoint for health maintenance: Zusanli, Fenglong, Shuidao
- Blood stasis body constitutionOverall characteristics: poor blood flow, blood stasis like dull complexion and purplish tongue.
Physical characteristics: can be either fat or thin.
Signs & Symptoms: dull complexion, pigmentation, prone to having bruises, dark lips, dark tongue or stasis spots, purplish or thickened under tongue varicose veins, choppy pulse.
Psychological characteristics: Irritable, forgetful.
Health risks: prone to having hard lump in the abdomen, pain syndrome including chest pain, joint pain, menstruation pain, blood syndrome due to locked veins and poor blood circulation, etc.
Aromatherapy blend: grapefruit 5 drops, cinnamon 6 drops, citronella 4 drops, patchouli 5 drops, peppermint 5 drops, basil 4 drops, sweet almond oil 29ml + jojoba 1ml
Diffuser blend for emotional balance: marjoram 2 drops + cedarwood 1 drop + sweet orange 2 drops
Acupoint for health maintenance: Xuehai, Neiguan
- Special body constitutionOverall characteristics: congenital disorders with physiological defects, allergic reactions, etc.
Physical characteristics: no specific difference for allergic constitution; those with innate abnormalities may have deformities or physical defects.
Signs & Symptoms: People with allergies often have asthma, urticaria, irritated throat, nasal congestion, sneezing, etc.; people with hereditary diseases would have vertical genetic inheritance, congenital, and familial characteristics; people with fetal transmission diseases would be prone to having maternal and related diseases that affect growth and development.
Psychological characteristics: varies by individuals.
Health risks: Allergic body constitution is prone to asthma, urticaria, hay fever and drug allergy; people with hereditary diseases are prone to haemophilia, hereditary mental retardation; fetal transmitted diseases from mother to child include “Five Delays” – delays in ability to stand, walk, speak, hair growth, teeth eruption, “Five Flaccidity” – weak and soft head and neck, flabby limbs, muscles, and mouth), infantile metopism, neonatal shock, etc.
Aromatherapy blend: chamomile 15 drops, lavender 3 drops, lemon 3 drops, cinnamon 5 drops, peppermint 3 drops, sweet almond oil 20ml and jojoba oil 10ml
Diffuser blend for emotional balance: cedarwood 1 drop + sweet orange 2 drops + clary sage 1 drop
Acupoint for health maintenance: Zusanli, Guanyuan, Shenque, Shenshu