In TCM, each individual's body type is evident from one's physical signs and symptoms, behaviour and personality.
By knowing your own body constitution, you can select the food and herbs that can best balance your body to attain better health and wellness. For example, a person with a Qi deficient body type (easily tired, falls ill easily), can take Qi replenishing food and herbs like dates or ginseng, to bring the body back to a balanced state, and through this improve one's energy level and immunity.
Below are some of the common body types. Do note that you may have a combination of different body constitutions.
1. Balanced
Signs & Symptoms
Fit and healthy body, radiant appearance, healthy hair
Sufficient energy, good appetite
Cheerful attitude, seldom falls ill
Suitable Herbs & Food
Take light and neutral food (e.g. rice, cabbage, cauliflower, pork etc.) and avoid excessive tonics to maintain balanced body
2. Qi Deficient
Signs & Symptoms
Easily tired, soft and small voice, shortness of breath
Perspire spontaneously
Falls ill easily, prone to cold and flu
Suitable Herbs & Food
Ginseng (人参 Rén Shēn)
Chinese Yam (山药 Shān Yào )
Red dates (大枣 Dà Zǎo)
3. Blood Deficiency
Signs & Symptoms
Pale face, lips & nails, dry skin
Prone to dizziness, insomnia with frequent dreaming
Prone to light or missing periods in women
Suitable Herbs & Food
Chinese Angelica (当归 Dāng Guī )
Longan (龙眼肉 Lóng Yǎn Ròu )
Red dates (大枣 Dà Zǎo)
4. Yang Deficiency (Cold)
Signs & Symptoms
Fear of cold, cold hands and feet
Seldom thirsty, frequent colourless urination
Preference for warm food and drinks
Prone to being less active and outgoing
Suitable Herbs & Food
Ginger (姜 Jiāng)
Cinnamon (肉桂 Ròu Guì)
Mutton (羊肉 Yáng Ròu)
Avoid cold food e.g. ice cream, or cooling food e.g. banana, green tea etc.
5. Yin Deficiency (Dry and hot)
Signs & Symptoms
Dry skin, dry mouth, often thirsty, thin body
Hot flushes, night sweats, hot palms and soles
Prone to being impatient or irritable, more active and outgoing
Suitable Herbs & Food
Lily Bulb (百合 Bǎi Hé)
Snow fungus (银耳 Yín Ěr)
Wolfberry (枸杞子 Gǒu Qǐ Zi)
Avoid heaty foods such as chili, lychee etc.
6. Excessive Yang (Hot)
Signs & Symptoms
Bright red tongue, may have red face
Bitter taste in mouth, bad breath
Often have sore throat, mouth ulcers
Often thirsty, dark yellow & infrequent urination
Prone to being impatient or irritable, more active and outgoing
Suitable Herbs & Food
Chrysanthemum (菊花 Jú Huā)
Green bean (绿豆 Lǜ Dòu)
Aloe vera (芦荟 Lú Hui)
Green tea (绿茶 Lǜ Chá)
7. Phlegm-Dampness
Signs & Symptoms
Thick tongue coating, sticky feeling in mouth
Feeling of heaviness in the body
Prone to obesity
Suitable Herbs & Food
Chinese barley (薏米 Yì Mǐ )
Poria (茯苓 Fú Líng)
Hyacinth bean (白扁豆 Bái Biǎn Dòu)
Avoid sweet, fatty food
8. Damp heat
Signs & Symptoms
Oily skin, prone to having pimples
Dense yellow coating on tongue
Bitter taste in mouth, bad breath
Sticky stools
Suitable Herbs & Food
Chinese barley (薏米 Yì Mǐ)
Winter melon (冬瓜 Dōng Guā)
Cucumber (黄瓜 Huáng Guā)
Avoid oily or rich food
9. Blood stasis
Signs & Symptoms
Darker lips, darker complexion on face
May have dry, scaly, rough skin
Easily frustrated
Suitable Herbs & Food
Chinese Angelica (当归 Dāng Guī )
Chinese Hawthorn (山楂 Shān Zhā)
Rose (玫瑰花 Méi Guī Huā)
10. Qi stasis
Signs & Symptoms
Easily nervous, emotionally sensitive
May have stuffiness or pain in the ribs or chest
Prone to depression, anxiety, neurological disorders
Suitable Herbs & Food
Mandarin peel (陈皮 Chén Pí)
Chinese thorowax (柴胡 Chái Hú)
Rose (玫瑰花 Méi Guī Huā)
Since every TCM herb has its own unique property, the herbs within the same category, as listed above, can still differ from one another. When in doubt, it is best to consult your TCM physician to find out the most suitable lifestyle changes or herbal supplements for you.
体质本身除了会影响健康状况以外，也会间接影响行为及性格。若要在日常生活中以中药食疗为保健方式，则必须清楚了解自己的体质，因中药的服用法和体质有着密切的关系。
故此，正确的选择适合自己体质的药膳材料，能使其功能发挥最佳的疗效，并获得平衡的身体健康。例如，气虚体质者（易疲劳，易生病）多食补气药物食品，能把气养回到正常水平，从而提高精力及免疫功能。
除了以下所提及的体质分类以外，也存着宗和性的体质。
一，平
症状表现
体形健壮，面色红润，毛发浓密
精力充足，食欲好
性格开朗，不易生病
常用药物及食品
多食清淡，平性食物（如米，白菜，菜花，猪肉等），而不随意或过度进补，以维持平衡体质
二，气虚
症状表现
疲乏无力，声音弱小，气短
自汗
容易生病，感冒
常用药物及食品
人参
山药
大枣
三，血虚
症状表现
脸白唇淡，甲色浅淡，皮肤干燥
头晕，不易入眠且多梦
女子月经量少或闭经
常用药物及食品
当归
龙眼肉
大枣
四，阳虚（寒）
症状表现
怕冷，手脚容易冰冷
不感到口渴，但多尿且颜色淡
喜热饮食
喜静少动
常用药物及食品
姜
肉桂
羊肉
忌冰冷食品（如冰淇凌），或寒性食物（如香蕉，绿茶等）
五，阴虚燥热
症状表现
皮肤干燥，口燥口渴，形体消瘦
潮热盗汗，手足心热
易急躁，喜动好强
常用药物及食品
百合
银耳
枸杞子
忌热性食物（如辣椒，荔枝等）
六，阳亢（热）
症状表现
舌偏红，可有面部红赤
口中有苦味，口臭
易咽痛，易生口疮
多感口渴，少尿且色黄
易急躁，喜动好强
常用药物及食品
菊花
绿豆
芦荟
绿茶
七，痰湿
症状表现
舌苔厚腻，口中黏腻
肢体困重
体形易肥胖
常用药物及食品
薏苡仁/薏米
茯苓
白扁豆
忌甘甜肥腻食物
八，湿热
症状表现
面部偏油，易生粉刺
舌苔黄腻
口中有苦味，口臭
大便黏滞
常用药物及食品
薏苡仁/薏米
冬瓜
黄瓜
忌油腻食物
九，血瘀
症状表现
面、唇色暗
皮肤易粗燥
易烦躁
常用药物及食品
当归
山楂
玫瑰花
十，气郁
症状表现
易紧张，情绪较敏感
可有胸闷，两胁痛
易患抑郁症，焦虑症，神经功能症
常用药物及食品
陈皮
柴胡
玫瑰花
以上所列之中药材，乃属一般用于平衡身体寒热虚实的种类。然而， 中药材本身各有其特色，就算是同类药， 其功效特性仍然有所差异。 故此，服用中药之前，先请教中医师 诊断出体质状况为慎。
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