Chapter 5 Constitutions

Lecturer: QU Hongyan

Contents

Basic concept

Formation and development of the theory of constitutions

Factors affecting constitutions

constitutions

Concept

Constitutions refer to the

comprehensive and relatively stable

features of the individual life process,

manifested in the aspects of morphology

and structure, physiological functions

and psychological states, etc. and

determined by innate endowment and

acquired factors.

Constitutions

Morphologystructure

Physiologicalfunctions

Psychologicalactivities

Basic principles

Theory of constitutions determined by innate endowmentsTheory of constitutions inhibited by environmentsTheory of constitutions developing in a phased processTheory of constitutions formed by both physique and spirit.

Signs of health

A strong body

In a very good looks

Live in harmony with

other people

The connotation of health, which include physical heath, mental health and good social adaptive capability, is comprehensive and multi-level.

According to World Health Organization, 80% humans are of acidity, under sub health condition.

Factors affecting constitutions

Innate factors

Innate factors refer to the

parental hereditary substances

and fetal environments.

These factors include innate

endowment and environmental

factors and parent conditions

in the course of fetal

development.

（ 1 ） Innate endowment

At the very beginning of life, man has

already possessed different constitutional

features such as fat or thin, weak or

strong, tall or short, yin or yang property.

So it is important to take

good care of a pregnant

woman.

（ 2 ） Sex

Man and woman differ in physiology and pathology and they have different constitutional features.

Gifted with strength of yang with yang

qi as the root

Gifted with grace of yin with yin

blood as the root.

Man Man Woman Woman Visceral functions are

powerful

Visceral functions are

relatively weak

Strong and large figure Petite body structure

Have extroversion character Introversion, exquisite and like to be quiet

Takes kidney as the innate root Takes liver as the innate root

Essen (qi) is the root of man Yin blood is the root of woman

Qi is often insufficient Blood is usually insufficiency

Acquired factors

Based on innate factors, constitutional

features of individuals gradually

develop under the influence of various

acquired factors.

These factors include natural and

social environments, personal

experiences, diet,

etc, which will exert a certain

restrictive or even decisive influence

on the development of constitutions.

1. Age

At different period of age, individuals show different constitutional features.

Age Yin-yang physique viscera Qi and blood

Psychological attribute

Infant period

Tender Not being

filled up

Delicate Not abundant

Timid and weak

Adolescent

PeriodBegin to

growMature Not strong Gradually

abundant

Full of vigor

and vitality

Prime period

Harmonious Strong Intact

and strong

Abundant Mature and firm

Geratic

period

Both decline

depletion Deficient

weak

Stagnant

and insufficient

Thoughtful, apt to be sad

2. Diet

Diet is indispensable to human existence.

Different food has diverse effect on viscera. Food partiality will result in the variation of constitutions.

e.g.

Long-term indulgencein cool and cold food

Yang deficiency with exuberance of yin

Partiality tosweet and greasy food

Produce phlegm or turn into heat to generate fire

3. Work or rest

Necessary rest and sleep can eliminate fatigue, and restore physical and mental powers.

Over-work Consume original qi

Over-restStagnation of

qi and blood andhypofunction

of viscera

Qi stagnation

Blood stasis

Long-term lackof exercise

4. Marriage and child-bearing

which include sexual intercourse, pregnancy and labor. If the above activities are normal, there would be normal reproduction and harmonious physiology and pathology.

Long-term rejectionof sexual activities

Depression, unsmoothcirculation of qi

And blood

Qi stagnation

Too much deliveryand birth

Consume kidneyessence andkidney qi

Impair yinblood

Affect constitutionsof women

5. Emotions

The material basis of emotions are qi and blood. Emotional changes may affect visceral functions of qi and blood and further restrict the formation and development of constitutions.

Extreme, prolongedEmotional stimulation

Abnormal visceralfunctions

Disharmonyof yin-yangqi and blood

Special types of constitutions

6. Diseases

It is an important influential factor in the process of formation of constitutions.

e.g. febrile disease constitutions of yin deficiency

chronic disease constitutions of qi deficiency

7. Environments

people live in particular climatic and geographic environments. The long-term influence of natural factors, the difference of geographic and climatic conditions and the corresponding living habits will unavoidably calls groups of people in different time and areas to change adaptably in morphology and structures, physiological functions and psychological activities.

In the north where it is dry and cold and diet is coarse, people usually have tight

interstices and strong spleen and stomach

7. Environments

Various social environments produce differences in living conditions, social customs, moral standards, psychological states, etc., and make group constitutions show a change tendency correspondingly.

1 、 Relative stability

It refers to that individual constitutions may keep

stably unchanged within a period of time. Based

on innate endowments, through heredity, from

their remote ancestors, individuals inherit

features of morphology and structure,

physiological functions and psychological states,

and form the stability of constitutions.

2 、 Dynamic variability

It refers to that constitutional features are not immutable but changeable under the influence of internal and external environments in the life process.

factors

Growth and development

Natural environments

Dietary structure

Diseases

Treatment of acupuncture and herbs

3 、 Individual difference

Due to differences of innate endowments and

diversities of acquired conditions, constitutional

features vary from person to person.

4 、 Group tropism

Individual constitutions are diverse. Yet under the same time and space conditions, or with similar dietary and living conditions, people may present similar or identical constitutional features due to the same hereditary backgrounds and similar environmental conditions. Group of people usually suffer with certain diseases.

e.g. Endemic disease

5 、 Unity of physique and spirit

Constitutions are the unity of special physiological

and psychological features. Therefore, spirits,

temperaments, emotions are all important

components of constitutions, and significant in the

differentiation and classification of constitutions.

Classification of constitutions

The diversity of the formative factors of constitutions leads to the complicated individual differences in physiology and pathology. So constitutions of individuals should be classified.

Methods for classifications of constitutions

Classification according to yin-yang prosperities

Classification according to five elements

Classification according to types of build

Classification according to visceral morphology

Classification according to psychological states

Canon of medicine

1. Harmonious constitution

The harmonious constitutions is marked by proportional and strong build, bright eyes, glossy skin, reddy lips, thick hair, energy, tolerance of cold and hot, sound sleep, good appetite, normal stool and urine, pink tongue with thin-white coating, strong pulse, and amiable and cheerful disposition.

2. Abnormal constitution

Constitution of qi deficiency

Constitution of yang deficiency

Constitution of yin deficiency

Constitution of blood deficiency

Constitution of phlegm-damp

Constitution of damp-heat

Constitution of stagnant blood

Constitution of qi stagnation

Constitution of special innate endowments

Application of the theory of

constitutions