What's Your TCM Body Type? The Constitution Quiz

In Western medicine, everyone gets the same advice: eat vegetables, exercise, drink water. In TCM, health advice is personalized to your body constitution (体质 tǐ zhì). What heals one person can harm another. A "cooling" food is medicine for someone with excess heat — but poison for someone who's already cold.

China's leading TCM researcher, Professor Wang Qi (王琦), identified 9 body constitutions. Here are the 5 most common ones with a self-assessment.

The 5 Most Common Body Types

Type 1: 气虚 Qi Deficiency — "The Tired Type"

Check if you...	Key Signs
☐ Fatigue easily — even simple tasks feel exhausting	Energy: Low. Feel tired even after sleeping 8+ hours.
☐ Catch colds easily / get sick often	Voice: Soft, breathy. Don't like talking much.
☐ Feel short of breath with light exercise	Digestion: Poor appetite, bloated after eating.
☐ Spontaneous sweating (sweat without exertion)	Tongue: Pale, swollen with teeth marks on edges.

Eat More	Chinese yam (山药), chicken, beef, sweet potato, mushrooms, red dates, ginseng tea
Avoid	Raw cold foods, ice cream, excessive dieting, skipping meals
Lifestyle	Gentle exercise (walking, tai chi), NO intense cardio. Rest more. Sleep by 10pm.

Type 2: 阳虚 Yang Deficiency — "The Cold Type"

Check if you...	Key Signs
☐ Cold hands and feet — even in warm weather	Temperature: Always cold. Love warm food and hot drinks.
☐ Pale face, prefer to be wrapped up	Digestion: Loose stool, undigested food visible.
☐ Frequent clear urination, especially at night	Energy: Low in mornings, better by afternoon.
☐ Low back pain, weak knees	Tongue: Pale, puffy, wet with white coating.

Eat More	Lamb, ginger, cinnamon, walnuts, shrimp, leeks, black bean soup
Avoid	Cold/raw foods, ice, bitter melon, watermelon (yes, even in summer!)
Lifestyle	Keep belly and feet warm. Moxibustion. Warm foot soaks before bed.

Type 3: 阴虚 Yin Deficiency — "The Hot & Dry Type"

Check if you...	Key Signs
☐ Feel hot in palms, soles, and chest (五心烦热)	Temperature: Warm. Night sweats common.
☐ Dry mouth, dry skin, dry eyes	Sleep: Difficulty falling asleep, vivid dreams.
☐ Constipation with dry, hard stools	Mood: Irritable, anxious, easily frustrated.
☐ Thin body, can't gain weight easily	Tongue: Red, thin, little or no coating, cracks.

Eat More	Snow fungus, lily bulb, pear, duck, tofu, honey, sesame, goji berries
Avoid	Spicy food, alcohol, coffee, lamb, cinnamon — anything that adds heat
Lifestyle	Gentle swimming, yin yoga. Avoid late nights. Hydrate constantly.

Type 4: 痰湿 Phlegm-Dampness — "The Heavy Type"

Check if you...	Key Signs
☐ Overweight, especially around the belly	Body: Heavy feeling, sluggish, foggy mind.
☐ Oily skin, acne, greasy hair	Chest: Phlegm, stuffy feeling, nausea after greasy food.
☐ Heavy limbs, feel like moving through mud	Mouth: Sticky sweet taste, excessive saliva.
☐ Loose/sticky stool that's hard to clean	Tongue: Swollen, thick greasy white/yellow coating.

Eat More	Barley, red beans, lotus leaf tea, radish, seaweed, corn silk tea
Avoid	Dairy, sugar, greasy/fried foods, excessive carbs, beer
Lifestyle	MUST exercise — sweating is medicine. Brisk walking, cycling, dancing.

Type 5: 血瘀 Blood Stasis — "The Stuck Type"

Check if you...	Key Signs
☐ Dark circles under eyes that never go away	Skin: Dark, dull complexion. Easy bruising.
☐ Fixed, stabbing pain in specific locations	Lips/nails: Purple/dark colored.
☐ Heavy, painful periods with dark clots (women)	Veins: Visible spider/varicose veins.
☐ Forget things easily	Tongue: Dark/purple, dark spots, sublingual veins dark and distended.

Eat More	Hawthorn berries, turmeric, saffron, vinegar, dark leafy greens, rose tea
Avoid	Cold foods (constrict blood vessels), excessive sitting, late nights
Lifestyle	Regular exercise to move blood. Gua sha. Acupuncture. Stretch daily.

Note: Most people are a COMBINATION of 2-3 types. The dominant type guides your primary strategy. Consult a TCM practitioner for a precise diagnosis.