Health is abundant, and peace is essential for wellness. I am Yu Ping, sharing genuine insights daily, hoping to inspire and warm you. This is my 788th article.
1. Balanced Constitution
• Characteristics
Hair is black and shiny; voice is loud and strong; body is well-proportioned, neither overweight nor underweight, with firm muscles; lips and tongue show a natural light red color, not dark or purplish; good sleep quality, rarely experiences insomnia or vivid dreams; good appetite; normal and regular bowel and urinary habits; stable emotions; abundant energy; good memory.
• Health Preservation Tips
1. The balance of Yin and Yang is the greatest path to health. Foods such as black rice, corn, red beans, pea sprouts, tomatoes, loofah, carrots, wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, black chicken, duck meat, crucian carp, and eel are suitable for women with a balanced constitution to nourish Yin and Yang, beneficial for preventing constitutional imbalances. Meal arrangements should also consider Yin and Yang coordination: breakfast should focus on nourishing Yang, lunch should balance Yin and Yang, and dinner should nourish Yin.
2. Approach people and situations with calmness, avoiding anxiety and irritability, and try to minimize negative emotions such as sorrow, sadness, and anger.
3. Balance nutrition by reasonably arranging daily meals according to the “Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents” set by the Chinese Nutrition Society, and consume seasonal, fresh, and natural foods, avoiding out-of-season foods.
2. Yin Deficiency Constitution
• Characteristics
Complexion tends to be red, easily flushed on the cheeks, often feels hot; eyes are dry with red blood vessels; palms and soles are prone to heat and sweating; stools are dry, sometimes constipated; often feels dry mouth and throat, prefers cold drinks; lips are easily dry and peeling, appearing redder or darker; sensitive to heat; irritable; poor sleep quality, sweating excessively after falling asleep.
• Health Preservation Tips
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Maintain a regular sleep schedule, going to bed before 23:00, and avoid staying up late to prevent excessive loss of Yin fluids.
2. Women with Yin deficiency should engage in gentle, moderate-intensity, and intermittent exercises, such as Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, Qigong, jogging, and walking.
3. Avoid saunas and hot springs.
4. Daily diet should include more foods that nourish Yin, such as tofu, duck meat, oysters, field snails, sea cucumbers, grapes, sugarcane, lilies, yam, lotus root, winter melon, and mung beans. Avoid spicy, warming, and irritating foods such as chili, Sichuan pepper, black pepper, ginger, garlic, dog meat, lamb, quail meat, and alcohol.
3. Yang Deficiency Constitution
• Characteristics
Lips are pale and lack luster; skin is dry and dull, often with dark circles; prone to edema, frequent nighttime urination; tolerates summer but not winter; easily catches colds; hands and feet are cold, sensitive to cold in the stomach, back, waist, and below the knees; dislikes cold foods, which can cause bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea; excessive sleepiness, poor mental state; hair is sparse and of poor quality; calm personality, dislikes exercise, and tends to be pessimistic.
• Health Preservation Tips
1. Engage in regular exercise, preferably outdoors during the day, as sunlight plays an important role in improving Yang deficiency. Sunbathing is a good opportunity to replenish Yang energy.
2. Warm, sweet, and mild foods are best for women with Yang deficiency to regulate their constitution, such as beef, lamb, dog meat, chicken, quail meat, leeks, mustard greens, carrots, lychee, longan, walnuts, and black beans. Cold, greasy, bitter, and cold foods are dietary taboos for Yang deficiency.
3. Spring and summer are excellent times to nourish Yang energy; moderate spring bundling and outdoor activities are recommended, while minimizing air conditioning use. In autumn and winter, pay attention to warmth, avoid “autumn freezing,” and add clothing promptly, avoiding prolonged exposure to cold environments.
4. Qi Deficiency Constitution
• Characteristics
Often experiences shortness of breath; muscles are weak, limbs feel fatigued; dislikes exercise; speaks little, voice is low; prone to colds; easily feels palpitations and rapid heartbeat; forgetful; sensitive to heat in summer and cold in winter; constipation without hard stools, or loose stools; often feels dizzy and lightheaded; prefers quiet, is lazy to speak, and has a vacant gaze.
• Health Preservation Tips
1. Avoid excessive fatigue, balancing work and rest, and preventing overthinking.
2. Women with Qi deficiency should focus on methods of nourishment; the most beneficial way to restore health is through gradual supplementation. Over-supplementation or inappropriate supplementation can not only fail to improve the existing imbalances but also lead to a series of side effects.
3. Daily diet should include foods that are neutral to slightly warming, such as yam, lotus seeds, chestnuts, lotus root powder, carrots, pumpkin, shiitake mushrooms, apples, red dates, yellow eel, and lamb; avoid excessive consumption of cold, bitter, spicy, and greasy foods.
4. Regular light exercise, such as walking, backward walking, jogging, and Tai Chi, is recommended, while avoiding prolonged periods of watching TV or reading.
5. Phlegm-Damp Constitution
• Characteristics
Oily nose and forehead; overweight with a large belly; swollen upper eyelids, prone to bags under the eyes; excessive phlegm, sticky mouth, especially noticeable upon waking, sometimes with a sweet taste in the mouth; often feels chest tightness and shortness of breath; prone to sweating, with body odor in the armpits, and a sticky back; yellowish complexion; enlarged tongue with a white, greasy coating; loose or sticky stools; excessive vaginal discharge in women; enjoys fatty and sweet foods; calm personality, often feels heavy-headed and dizzy.
• Health Preservation Tips
1. Regularly check blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids.
2. Actively exercise, aiming for a flushed complexion and sweating during each session, and engage in sunbathing.
3. Maintain regular hot baths, wear loose, cotton-linen clothing, and avoid prolonged stays in damp environments.
4. Daily diet should include more foods that strengthen the spleen, resolve phlegm, and regulate Qi, such as coix seed, lentils, white radish, gourd, winter melon, yellow soybean sprouts, crucian carp, carp, and perch; avoid excessive consumption of rich and heavy foods and fruits; control portion sizes to avoid overeating.
For those not covered here, please pay attention to the remaining four constitutions tomorrow. Lastly, I will share a method to check the flexibility of your shoulder blades.
I am Yu Ping, a TCM teacher who loves Traditional Chinese Medicine. I wish everyone health and happiness. In the journey of spreading TCM meridian regulation techniques, you are welcome to leave a message if you have any questions.