IdentifyTCM · Constitutions
The 9 TCM Body Constitutions
Traditional Chinese Medicine sorts everyone into one of nine body constitutions — a framework standardized by Professor Wang Qi and the China Association of Chinese Medicine (CACM). One is balanced; the other eight describe a tendency, such as running cold, running hot, or holding dampness. Knowing yours is the starting point for food, movement, and self-care that actually fits you.
Balanced Constitution
平和質
Yin, yang, qi, and blood in harmony. Many spend years chasing what you may have naturally — the goal now is to protect it.
Learn more →Qi Deficiency
氣虛質
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, low vital energy (qi) leaves you drained, breathless, and prone to illness. The good news: it can be rebuilt.
Learn more →Yang Deficiency
陽虛質
When the body's internal heating runs low, you feel chilled and drained. With the right approach, that warmth can be rebuilt.
Learn more →Yin Deficiency
陰虛質
When the body's cooling, nourishing reserve runs low, it runs hot and wears faster — like an engine low on coolant. Yin can be restored, but the approach matters.
Learn more →Phlegm-Dampness
痰濕質
When fluid metabolism slows, excess dampness accumulates and everything feels thick and heavy. A few cups of tea won't fix it — the spleen and stomach need to relearn how to drain.
Learn more →Damp-Heat
濕熱質
Dampness and heat tangled together — like a pot of thick, boiling porridge, sticky and scalding. Skincare treats the surface; the source is internal.
Learn more →Blood Stasis
血瘀質
When blood pools and stagnates — like a pipe with a partial blockage — flow slows and pressure builds. Many "beauty" concerns trace back to this root.
Learn more →Qi Stagnation
氣鬱質
When the flow of energy gets blocked, pressure builds quietly inside — like a balloon with nowhere to release. People with qi stagnation aren't weak; the body is asking to let things move again.
Learn more →Inherited Special
特稟質
A hyper-responsive immune system, on guard against threats others barely notice. TCM doesn't just suppress the reaction — it changes the soil that keeps growing the weeds.
Learn more →Quick-Reference Comparison: All 9 TCM Body Constitutions
Based on the official CACM standard (Professor Wang Qi, 2009) and clinical patterns across 20,700+ IdentifyTCM assessments:
| Constitution (CACM) | Core Pattern | Common Body Signals | Primary Daily Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced (平和質) | Harmony of Yin, Yang, Qi & Blood | Steady energy, sound sleep, warm hands/feet, adaptable to seasons | Maintain regular sleep, seasonal whole foods & moderate movement |
| Qi Deficiency (氣虛質) | Low vital energy (Spleen & Lung Qi) | Tired even after sleeping, breathless on stairs, soft voice, catches colds easily | Warm cooked meals, gentle pacing (walking/Tai Chi), avoid cold raw food |
| Yang Deficiency (陽虛質) | Insufficient warming fire (Kidney & Spleen Yang) | Always cold hands/feet, dislikes AC or winter, loose stools after cold drinks | Warm the core & lower back, warm foot soaks, ginger/cinnamon food therapy |
| Yin Deficiency (陰虛質) | Depleted cooling fluids (Yin & Blood) | Warm palms/soles at night, dry mouth or skin, light sleep, night heat | Moistening foods (pear, lily bulb, black sesame), sleep before 11 PM, avoid spicy heat |
| Phlegm-Dampness (痰濕質) | Sluggish fluid metabolism & Spleen dampness | Morning heaviness or brain fog, easy bloating, soft midsection, thick tongue coat | Light warm meals, aromatic/damp-clearing ingredients (chenpi, coix), daily brisk walk |
| Damp-Heat (濕熱質) | Internal dampness combined with trapped heat | Oily T-zone or jawline breakouts, bitter taste, heavy/sticky digestion, easily warm | Clear damp-heat gently (mung bean, celery), cut alcohol, fried foods & late nights |
| Blood Stasis (血瘀質) | Sluggish micro-circulation & meridian flow | Dark under-eye circles, fixed shoulder/body knots, easy bruising, dark clots | Keep circulation warm and moving, stretching/tapping, avoid prolonged sitting & cold |
| Qi Stagnation (氣鬱質) | Constrained Liver Qi flow from stress | Frequent sighing, tight chest or ribs, stress bloating, pre-period tension, 1–3 AM waking | Move Liver Qi (rib-side brushing, outdoor walks, rose/citrus tea), unwind before bed |
| Special / Inherited (特稟質) | Sensitive defensive Qi (Wei Qi) reactivity | Seasonal pollen/dust sneezing, sensitive skin, reacts easily to weather or food shifts | Support Wei Qi before season changes, warm simple diet, avoid known triggers |
Which One Are You?
Take the quick quiz — 29 gentle questions, about three minutes — to identify your constitution — and get guidance built around it.
Take the quick quiz →This page offers general TCM educational perspectives, not medical advice or a diagnosis. For any health concern, please consult a licensed healthcare professional.