9 Constitutions · Foundation of TCM Wellness

National Standard Introduction

Standard Number: GB/T 46939-2025 "Classification and Determination of Constitution in Traditional Chinese Medicine" Release Date: December 31, 2025 Implementation Date: April 1, 2026 Responsible Authority: National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Drafting Unit: Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (led by Academician Wang Qi's team)

Core Features of the Standard

  1. Full-Scenario Application Coverage: Applicable to the entire fields of medical treatment, public health, scientific research, education, and the health industry, providing determination basis for preventive treatment centers, physical examination institutions, and primary healthcare.
  2. Evidence-Based Constitution Characteristics Innovation: Based on the latest TCM constitution research results from 2009-2024, the characterization of the nine constitutions selects the latest outcomes with good evidence-based support, reflecting the most recent achievements in TCM constitution science.
  3. Standardized Determination Methods: Complex professional constitution category determination is achieved through selecting typical somatic sensation questions representing different constitutions, matching corresponding level scoring algorithms, forming a standardized determination method.

Detailed Explanation of the 9 Constitutions Determination Standards

Determination Method System

  • Self-Assessment Scale: A total of 27 core dimension questions, while maintaining good reliability and validity, the number of items has been significantly reduced from the original 60, with average completion time shortened from 11.6 minutes to 4.23 minutes.
  • 6 Major Determination Dimensions:
  • Body Characteristics: Such as obese, well-proportioned, thin body type, etc.
  • Physiological Manifestations: Such as aversion to cold, fever, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, etc.
  • Psychological Features: Such as low mood, anxiety, sensitivity, etc.
  • Disease Tendencies: Such as susceptibility to colds, allergies, hypertension tendency, etc.
  • Environmental Adaptation: Such as cold/heat tolerance, adaptation to humid environments, etc.

  • Tongue and Pulse Characteristics: Such as tongue body, tongue coating, pulse condition and other TCM diagnostic information.

  • Scoring Rules:

  • Calculate the raw score for each constitution type (sum of item scores)
  • Convert to a 0-100 conversion score: Conversion score = [(Raw score - Number of items) / (Number of items × 4)] × 100
  • Determination Thresholds:
    • Main Constitution: Conversion score ≥ 40 points
    • Tendency Constitution (Mixed Constitution): Conversion score 30-39 points
    • Non-This Constitution: Conversion score < 30 points
    • Special Determination for Balanced Constitution: Conversion score ≥ 60 points, and all other constitution conversion scores < 30 points

9 Constitutions Features and Nurturing Guidelines

1. Balanced Constitution · Harmony of Yin-Yang and Qi-Blood

  • Core Features: Well-proportioned physique, rosy and lustrous complexion, energetic, good sleep, normal appetite, regular bowel and urination, strong adaptability.
  • Psychological Features: Cheerful and easy-going personality, stable emotions.
  • Disease Tendencies: Rarely falls ill.
  • Tongue and Pulse Features: Pale red tongue, thin white coating, moderate and forceful pulse.
  • Nurturing Principle: Maintain balance, conform to nature. Moderation in diet, appropriate work and rest, regular exercise, peaceful mindset.

2. Qi-Deficient Constitution · Insufficient Primordial Qi

  • Core Features: Insufficient primordial qi, easily fatigued, shortness of breath, reluctance to speak, weak voice, loose and unsubstantial muscles.
  • Physiological Manifestations: Prone to spontaneous sweating (spontaneous sweating), worsens after activity.
  • Disease Tendencies: Susceptible to colds, visceral ptosis (such as gastroptosis), slow recovery after illness.
  • Tongue and Pulse Features: Pale red tongue, tooth marks on tongue edges, weak pulse.
  • Nurturing Principle: Tonify qi and strengthen spleen, avoid overexertion. Prefer qi-tonifying foods (soybeans, Chinese yam, red dates, honey, etc.), moderate gentle exercise (Eight Brocades, walking).

3. Yang-Deficient Constitution · Yang Qi Deficiency

  • Core Features: Yang qi deficiency, fear of cold, cold hands and feet, preference for hot foods and drinks.
  • Physiological Manifestations: Low spirits, loose stools, clear and long urination.
  • Psychological Features: Mostly quiet, introverted personality.
  • Disease Tendencies: Prone to phlegm retention, swelling, diarrhea, etc., susceptible to cold transformation when contracting pathogens.
  • Tongue and Pulse Features: Pale and swollen tongue, white and slippery coating, deep and slow pulse.
  • Nurturing Principle: Warm yang and dispel cold, tonify kidney and strengthen yang. Keep warm, avoid raw and cold foods, can apply moxibustion at Guanyuan point, consume ginger lamb and other warm-nourishing foods.

4. Yin-Deficient Constitution · Yin Fluid Deficiency

  • Core Features: Yin fluid deficiency, dry mouth and throat, hot palms and soles, flushed complexion.
  • Physiological Manifestations: Dry eyes, dry skin, night sweats during sleep, dry stools.
  • Psychological Features: Impatient temperament, extroverted and active.
  • Disease Tendencies: Prone to consumptive diseases, spermatorrhea, insomnia, etc., susceptible to heat transformation when contracting pathogens.
  • Tongue and Pulse Features: Red tongue with little saliva, little or no coating, thin and rapid pulse.
  • Nurturing Principle: Nourish yin and moisten dryness, clear heat and reduce fire. Avoid staying up late and spicy foods, prefer yin-nourishing ingredients such as lily bulbs, white fungus, pear, suitable for gentle exercise like Tai Chi.

5. Phlegm-Damp Constitution · Phlegm-Damp Accumulation

  • Core Features: Phlegm-damp accumulation, obese body type, soft and full abdomen, oily face.
  • Physiological Manifestations: Sticky or sweet taste in mouth, heavy and fatigued body, profuse sticky sweat.
  • Psychological Features: Generally gentle, steady personality.
  • Disease Tendencies: Prone to diabetes, stroke, chest stuffiness, etc.
  • Tongue and Pulse Features: White greasy or thick tongue coating, slippery pulse.
  • Nurturing Principle: Strengthen spleen and eliminate dampness, resolve phlegm and promote diuresis. Light diet, increase exercise, can use dried tangerine peel, coix seed for regulation.

6. Damp-Heat Constitution · Internal Damp-Heat

  • Core Features: Internal damp-heat, greasy complexion, prone to acne, dry and bitter mouth.
  • Physiological Manifestations: Heavy and fatigued body, sticky and unsmooth bowel movements, short yellow urination.
  • Psychological Features: Easily irritable and impatient.
  • Disease Tendencies: Prone to sores, jaundice, heat strangury, etc.
  • Tongue and Pulse Features: Reddish tongue body, yellow greasy coating, slippery and rapid pulse.
  • Nurturing Principle: Clear heat and eliminate dampness, promote bowel movement and diuresis. Quit smoking and alcohol, light diet, consume mung beans, bitter melon, keep environment dry.

7. Blood-Stasis Constitution · Poor Blood Circulation

  • Core Features: Poor blood circulation, dull complexion or pigmentation, dark or purple lips.
  • Physiological Manifestations: Rough skin like fish scales (cuticle hyperplasia), prone to ecchymosis on body, fixed stabbing pain in certain body parts.
  • Psychological Features: Easily irritable, forgetful, impatient temperament.
  • Disease Tendencies: Prone to masses, pain syndromes, bleeding disorders, etc.
  • Tongue and Pulse Features: Dark tongue or with ecchymotic spots, sublingual varicosis, hesitant pulse.
  • Nurturing Principle: Activate blood and resolve stasis, promote qi and unblock meridians. Moderate aerobic exercise, can drink rose tea, salvia miltiorrhiza hawthorn tea, avoid cold.

8. Qi-Stagnation Constitution · Qi Stagnation

  • Core Features: Qi stagnation, low mood, depression, sensitive and worried.
  • Physiological Manifestations: Chest and hypochondrium distension, or wandering pain, foreign body sensation in throat (globus hystericus), restless sleep.
  • Psychological Features: Introverted and unstable personality, melancholic and fragile.
  • Disease Tendencies: Prone to depression, hysteria, lily disease, insomnia, globus hystericus, panic, etc., recent research suggests increased risk of depression, cognitive frailty.
  • Tongue and Pulse Features: Pale red tongue, thin white coating, taut pulse.
  • Nurturing Principle: Soothe liver and relieve stagnation, regulate qi and calm mind. Participate more in social activities, cultivate interests, learn emotional expression, can use peppermint, bergamot and other aromatic ingredients.

9. Special Constitution · Congenital Abnormality

  • Core Features: Congenital abnormality, allergic constitution, common asthma, urticaria, itchy throat, nasal congestion, sneezing, etc.
  • Physiological Manifestations: Skin prone to scratching marks, ecchymosis, or allergies to drugs, foods, pollen, etc.
  • Disease Tendencies: Prone to asthma, urticaria, hay fever, drug allergies, etc.
  • Tongue and Pulse Features: Diverse tongue appearances, no specific manifestations.
  • Nurturing Principle: Tonify qi and strengthen exterior, avoid allergens. Light and balanced diet, avoid "trigger foods," enhance defensive ability, can use classic formulas like Yupingfeng Powder for regulation.

Scientific Application of Constitution Assessment

Dynamic Monitoring and Review Recommendations

  • Mild Deviation Constitution: Recommend review after 1-3 months to observe constitution change trends.
  • Moderate to Severe Deviation Constitution: Recommend review after 3-6 months, can combine with medical consultation guidance for integrated TCM-Western medicine regulation.
  • Balanced Constitution Maintenance: Annual regular assessment, maintain good living habits.

Precautions

  1. Honest Filling: Assessment should reflect physical condition over the past year, avoid interference from temporary symptoms.
  2. Professional Combination: Self-assessment results are for reference; if significant discomfort or illness occurs, seek medical attention promptly.
  3. Dynamic Adjustment: Constitution changes with factors such as age, season, living environment, emotional state, etc., should be dynamically observed.

Begin Your Scientific Constitution Assessment

Understanding your constitution is the first step towards healthy wellness. Our "Constitution Test" tool strictly follows the national standard, providing you with:

  • Scientific Basis: Based on 27 core questions from the GB/T 46939-2025 national standard.
  • Precise Analysis: Using standard scoring algorithms to determine your main constitution and tendency constitution.
  • Personalized Report: Detailed description of your constitution features, health risks, nurturing recommendations.
  • Personalized Tea Recommendations: Recommend the most suitable tea categories and drinking methods based on your constitution type.

Take Scientific Constitution Test Now

TCM Wisdom, Scientifically Presented. Let the national standard safeguard your health and wellness journey.