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World J Transl Med. Dec 12, 2013; 2(3): 56-66
Published online Dec 12, 2013. doi: 10.5528/wjtm.v2.i3.56
Published online Dec 12, 2013. doi: 10.5528/wjtm.v2.i3.56
Concepts of body constitution, health and sub-health from traditional Chinese medicine perspective
Rose YP Chan, Wai Tong Chien, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Author contributions: Chan RYP contributed to literature search and review, preparation of the manuscript; Chien WT contributed to literature review, editing and finalizing the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Wai Tong Chien, Professor, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. wai.tong.chien@polyu.edu.hk
Telephone: +852-27665648 Fax: +852-23649663
Received: June 4, 2013
Revised: July 27, 2013
Accepted: August 17, 2013
Published online: December 12, 2013
Revised: July 27, 2013
Accepted: August 17, 2013
Published online: December 12, 2013
Core Tip
Core tip: This article discussed the concepts of body constitution in traditional Chinese medicine, which can reveal and advocate an individual’s bodily condition and functioning and thus contribute to a more proactive, holistic and individualized healthcare. We critically discussed the concepts, types and measurements of body constitution in terms of three main health statuses - healthy, sub-healthy and disease. With better categorized ‘‘healthy”, “sub-healthy” and ‘‘unhealthy’’ patterns of one’s body constitution, the levels of bodily resistance (strong or weak) and functioning of internal organs (adaptive or mal-adaptive), as well as the balance of “Yin and Yang’’, can be easily differentiated and maintained.