Concepts of body constitution, health and sub-health from traditional Chinese medicine perspective

Table 1 Classifications of body constitution (1978–2002)

Authors andnumber of types	Types of body constitution
So et al[50](1996); 3 types	Balance type; Spleen-Lung type; and Spleen-Kidney type
Li et al[51(1996); 3 types	Yang exuberance type; Yin exuberance type; and Yin and Yang harmony type
Hu et al[52](1987); 4 types	Harmony type; Functional exuberance type; Functional deficiency type; and Functional exuberance and deficiency type
Zhu et al[53](1989); 5 types	Normal type; Phlegm-dampness type; Qi-deficiency type; Internal-heat type; and Qi-Yin deficiency type
Wan et al[54](1998); 5 types	Yin and Yang balance type; Heat-stagnation type; Spleen-Stomach Qi-deficiency type; Spleen-Stomach Yin-deficiency type; and Spleen-Stomach Qi-Yin-deficiency type
Kaung et al[55](1978); 6 types	Normal type; Heat-dryness type; Blood-stasis type; Phlegm-wetness type; Yang-deficiency type; and Fatigue-pale type
Ho et al[56](1986); 6 types	Normal type; Yin-deficiency type; Yang-deficiency type; Yin & Yang-deficiency type; Phlegm-wetness type; and Blood-stasis type
Ho et al[36](1996); 6 types	Strong type; Weak type; Trend-cold type; Trend-heat type; Trend-dampness type; and Blood-stasis type
Pang et al[57](1985); 7 types	Normal type; Excess-heat type; Qi-stagnation blood-stasis type; Phlegm-dampness type; Deficiency-cold type; Qi-blood deficiency type; and Yin-deficiency type
Qin et al[58](1984); 7 types	Norma type; Yin-deficiency type; Yang-deficiency type; Phlegm-dampness type; Qi-deficiency type; Heat-dampness type; and Blood-stasis type
Wang et al[59](1995); 7 types	Normal type; Spleen-insufficient type; Kidney-insufficient type; Lung-insufficient type; Liver-insufficient type; Heart-insufficient type; and Fetus-heat type
Chen et al[60](1988); 7 types	Normal type; Yin-deficiency type; Yang-deficiency type; Kidney-deficiency type; Qi-Blood-deficiency type; Phlegm-dampness type; and Blood-stasis type
Chen et al[61](1998); 7 types	Normal type; Yin-deficiency type; Yang-deficiency type; Phlegm-dampness type; Qi-blood-deficiency type; Fatigue type; and Yang- exuberance type
Wang et al[62](2002); 7 types	Gentleness type; Yin-deficiency type; Yang-deficiency type; Qi-deficiency type; Blood-stasis type; Phlegm-dampness; and Heat-dampness type
Wang et al[63](1984); 9 types	Yang type; Yin type; Yin-deficiency type; Yang-deficiency type; Heart-deficiency type; Liver-excess type; Spleen-deficiency type; Lung-deficiency type; and Kidney-deficiency type
Mu et al[64](1983); 9 types	Qi-deficiency type; Blood-deficiency type; Phlegm-wetness type; Blood-stasis type; Yang-deficiency type; Yin-deficiency type; Yin-exuberance type; Yang-exuberance type; and Qi-stagnation type
Tian et al[65](1983); 12 types	Yin-deficiency type; Yin-cold type; Yang-deficiency type; Yang-heat type; Qi-deficiency type; Qi-stagnation type; Blood-deficiency type; Blood-stasis type; Fluid-deficiency type; Phlegm-dampness type; Stirring-wind type; and Toxin type
Niu et al[66](2001); 16 types	Harmony type; Anxious type; Unbalance type; Stagnation type; Interior heat type; Liver-stagnation type; Phlegm-dampness type; Blood-stasis type; Weakness type; Yang-deficiency type; Qi-deficiency type; Essence-depletion type; Fluid-depletion type; Lung-deficiency type; Spleen-deficiency type; and Heart-blood deficiency type