Effects of TCMC on Transformation of Good Health Status to Suboptimal Health Status: A Nested Case-Control Study

Table 1

The characteristics of the TCM constitution.

TCM constitution	Body configuration	External appearance	Personality traits
Balanced Constitution	Moderate body shape	Ruddy complexion, good sleep, energetic, regular pulse, light red tongue with thin coating	Sunny
Qi-deficiency	Muscle grows flabby	Low voice, shortness of breath, lassitude, easy to sweat, weak pulse, reddish tongue with tooth print	Introvert
Yin-deficiency	Tall and lean	Flush face, preferring cool drink, thready and weak pulse, feverish sensation in the palms and soles, reddish tongue with thin or no coating	Irritable
Yang-deficiency	Usually fat	Pale face, cold hands and feet, fear of cold, deep and weak pulse, preferring hot food and drink, fat and tender tongue with tooth print and white coating	Introvert
Phlegm-dampness	Usually fat	Light yellow complexion, more oil on the face, slippery pulse, more sweat and phlegm, greasy and fat tongue with white coating	Patient and mild
Damp-heat	Moderate or thin	More oil on the face, somnolence, bitter taste in mouth, feel somatic heavy, thirst, short and yellow urine, viscous or dry defecate, red tongue with yellow and greasy coating, slippery and rapid pulse	Irritable
Blood-stasis	Fat or thin	Hyperpigmentation, dark and dim skin, easy to have a ecchymosis, dim lip and tongue, uneven pulse	Irritable, forgetful
Qi-stagnation	Usually thin	Depression, emotional fragility, being worried, light red tongue with thin coating, stringy pulse	Introvert, sensitive, Worrying
Inherited; Special Constitution	Congenital anomalies	Urticaria, pharyngeal itching, nasal obstruction, sneeze, asthma	Allergic, handicapped