Your Constitution TypeBased on TCM

Lifestyle

1 Aug

What is my type?

The basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture treatment is about finding a balance that suits your body type. In order to find out what type of constitution you have in these terms, take a read of the different types below & see which one you think sounds like you. It is possible to be a combination of more than one type but don’t worry, about this for now, just see which one most sounds like you. As we go along I will be introducing foods, recipes & lifestyle advice for each type to help you to take control of your physical, mental & emotional health & become your better self again.

Are you:

Cold
Hot
Damp
Blood Deficient
Qi Stagnant
Blood Stagnant

Are you Cold? – Excess Yin

Do at least 5 of these symptoms relate to you?

Do you have chills without sweating?
Do you have lack of thirst?
Do you go to the loo frequently & produce a lot of clear urine?
Do you have an aversion to cold?
Do you have loose bowel movements?
Are you fatigued?
Are you pale? Even slightly bluish at times?
Do you put weight on easily?
Do you have a white coating on your tongue?
Do you feel worse in cold weather?
Do you have water retention, i.e. puffiness on the body, especially abdomen & legs?

What makes you Cold?

Some people have a natural internal tendency towards a cold condition and at times it can be brought on by environmental conditions such as:

Diet – eating too much raw/cold food
Drinking cold liquids – where possible, drinks should be at room temperature
Drinking/eating directly from fridge
Cold living conditions including air conditioning
Certain drugs

First steps to warm your cold constitution:

Drink warming teas such as ginseng & ginger
Eat warmed foods which makes digestion easier on the body, e.g. roasting & stewing fruit where possible
Wear more layers, so you decrease the amount of artificial heating that you put into your body
Sleep in a warm room/take a warm bath
Practice yoga
Be happy and warm to all you are in contact with…

Are you Hot? – Excess Yang

Do at least 5 of these symptoms relate to you?

Are you easily agitated/angered/frustrated/react to things strongly?
Do you suffer from insomnia with nightmares?
Do you often run a fever?
Are you constipated?
Do you crave cold drinks/have a strong thirst?
Do you find you are red in the face/head?
Do you find you can have lack of urine/dry stools?
Do you get inflammation of the eyes?
Do you have a red tongue?
Do you find your breathing rapid?
Do you often throw off covers in bed?
Do you binge/do everything to extreme?
Do you find it difficult to relax?

What makes you Hot?

Some people have a natural internal tendency towards a hot condition and at times it can be brought on by environmental conditions such as: 

Too much caffeine/alcohol/tobacco/chocolate/greasy foods/stimulants/sugar/amphetamines or cocaine.
Hot/polluted/heated up environments/climates/areas of high industry.
People who are always on the go & do not pay attention to their stress levels
Unresolved emotional issues
Rage is an issue and can become a problem

First Steps to cooling your Hot Condition:

Learn how to manage stress/relax and control your anger
Try some fresh mint tea
Avoid alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, greasy rich foods, sugar
Try some mint tea
Practice meditation or yoga, and remember change doesn’t occur overnight, baby steps…

Are you Damp?

Do at least 5 of these symptoms relate to you?

Do you suffer from allergies such as asthma or hay fever or skin allergies such as eczema?
Do you have an oily complexion?
Is there mucus in your stools?
Do you crash when you fall asleep?
Do you have a fuzzy head?
Do you find it difficult to concentrate?
Do you feel stuck in life?
Does your tongue have a sticky coating?
Does your body/head feel heavy?
Do you suffer from dizziness?
Do you have a poor appetite?
Do you have excess mucus/stuffy chest?

What makes you Damp?

Some people have a natural internal tendency towards a damp condition and at times it can be brought on by environmental conditions such as:

Diet rich in fatty/heavy/sugary foods
Birth control pill/antibiotics
Exposure to damp environment/living in basements
A sedentary lifestyle
Alcohol, especially beer
Dairy
STD’s – dampness with heat
Dampness can cause Blood Deficiency (see next subject)

First steps to clearing Damp:

Avoid Alcohol, especially beer/chocolate/dairy/curries/bread/wheat/fried food/sugar/ready cracked nuts
Don’t drink too much water/eat too late at night/eat carbs & protein together
Eat lots of fresh foods/bitter leaves/onion/garlic/aduki beans/fennel/celery/jasmine, green and fennel tea

Are you Blood Deficient?

Do at least 5 of these symptoms relate to you?
Do you suffer from dizziness?
Do you suffer from palpitations/anxiety/sometimes feel a rising panic in your chest?
Do you suffer from insomnia/find it difficult to fall asleep?
Do you have dry hair/skin?
Are you pale?
Do you have poor memory or are u forgetful/scatty?
Do you suffer from fatigue?
Do you have scanty periods?
Are you a workaholic?
Are you slim build?
Are you easily startled?

What makes you Blood Deficient?

Loss of blood due to miscarriage/childbirth/accident
Diet – lack of blood foods, iron, regularly missed meals
Dampness as it inhibits the digestive system which is the body’s ability to make blood
Not resting properly after illness
History of blood loss

Pushing yourself beyond your limits 

Immediate steps to deal with Blood Deficiency tendencies:
Eat regular meals in a relaxed environment i.e. not on the run, while on the phone or watching television
Make home–made chicken-stock from scratch (look out for in my recipe section)
Eat lots of green leafy vegetables, seaweed, black & deep-red coloured foods
Avoid alcohol, which produces heat & consumes blood
Use moxabustion on ST36 (look out for in lifestyle advice section)

Are you Stagnant? – that is, your Qi or energy!

In TCM, this usually refers to your Liver & its control over your emotions. Do at least 5 of these symptoms relate to you?

Are you deeply frustrated/irritable?
If you are female, do you suffer badly with PMS/have irregular periods?
Are you prone to mood fluctuations, do you suffer from depression?
Do you frown a lot?
Do you feel uncomfortable after you eat, bloat easily?
Is your tongue purplish?
Do you have trouble moving on/finishing projects/do you feel stuck in life?
Do you get pains in your body which move around?
Are you stressed?

What makes your Qi Stagnate?

Modern day life!
Emotional baggage from your past
Alcohol (although initially becomes a quick fix, later deepens the problem)

Initial steps to deal with Qi Stagnation:

Diet – cut back on alcohol, eat light easily digestible foods such as green leafy veg & root veg, oats, dates, figs, liquorice & tofu. Fruit is good but allow yourself time to digest your main meal before eating it.
Exercise – go for a brisk walk, dance, take up Yoga or Qi Gong
Find new activities to help positivity & release any pent up frustration
Organise or sort stuff out, be it a messy kitchen drawer or your bulging diary – make this enjoyable, feel the layer unfold.
Be positive, make yourself a pleasure to be around
Let things go, don’t feel like everything has to be a challenge

Are you Blood Stagnant?

Blood stagnation develops from other conditions such as cold and damp but localized blood stagnation can be a result of trauma or injury. It is different form Qi Stagnation but there is an overlap so please do look at Qi Stagnation advice above also.

Do at least 5 of these symptoms relate to you?