A Weight Management Strategy I: Based on Four Constitutions in Traditional Korean Medicine

Do you still struggle to maintain a healthy weight even after attempting a variety of diets, fitness programs, and weight loss medications? Here, I'd like to share a weight-loss strategy based on the four constitutions that traditional Korean medicine has preserved. 

When you choose the appropriate routine, exercise, food, and treatment based on your constitution, you will be able to maintain healthy weight and overall wellbeing. The fact that each patient has a unique constitution explains why, even when the same treatment is given for the same symptom, the results vary from patient to patient. 

The four constitution types were first proposed by Lee Je-ma, born in 1894. He  was a traditional physician and used tailored treatments based on his four constitution types. As in As in 周易/Iching, the basis of ancient Eastern medicine and the repository of the laws of nature and the cosmos, he focused on the four constitution types according to the yin and yang dynamics in harmony with Taegeuk/Taichi as its birthplace.

He advocated four distinct constitutional types: Taiyang type, who has large Lungs with a small liver, Taiyin, who has a large Liver with small Lungs, Shaoyang, who has a large spleen and small Kidneys, and Shaoyin, who has large Kidneys with a small Spleen.

In general, we can categorize body types into yang and yin types. People with a yang constitution, such as Taiyang and Shaoyang, tend to be obese in the upper arms, stomach, and upper body, while people with a yin constitution, such as Taiyin and Shaoyin, tend to be obese in the lower body, such as the hips and thighs.

Then, let's take a closer look at the characteristics of each body type and the regimens that can help.

1. Taiyang Type 

                                                 

This type is usually found in Westerners, and is thin, tall, and doesn"t gain weight easily. However, weak liver and the following digestive problems can lead to obesity. This type of people have a weak waist and lower body, but their lung function is good. So, they gain weight from the chest area.

Choose lower body exercises like swimming, deep breathing, and jogging that don't overly tax your legs or cause you to perspire excessively.

Cool foods are beneficial since yang constitution tends to produce heat in the body, while increasing your intake of fiber to maintain gut health if you have digestive issues.

Taiyang type may not be able to discharge waste efficiently due to its small liver size and associated digestive issues, which can lead to obesity. Therefore, people who belong to this type should focus on detoxification, eliminating stagnation, and removing unnecessary fluid accumulation in the body to constrol weight. 

                                                                      

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2. Shaoyang Type

If you belong to this body type, you are very active and sensitive to stress. So you don't gain weight easily. You often feel troubled standing or walking for extended periods of time because of the weakness in your lower body. 

You often become obese due to your voracious appetite as your stomach and spleen function smoothly and digestion is good. But what makes you difficult is to properly expel waste and circulate heat. 

To reduce body heat, It is advised to consume sea foods, fresh fruits, and vegetables. 

Lower body strengthening exercises including running, walking, climbing are good. To improve concentration, archery and shooting are also recommended. Exercise is an effective way to control weight in this type. Use herbal remedy and sitz baths to prevent or treat constipation. 

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3. Taiyin Type

Do you belong to this type? You have a laid-back nature and a voracious appetite, which can be the cause to gain weight easily. You have a large skeleton and a good physique.

You have good stomach function, which allows you to absorb more than expel, plus your propensity for fatigue, you are prone to gain weight due to your inactivity. 

Warm up properly, preferably with exercises that support cardiorespiratory function but avoid strenuous exercise. Jogging, aerobics, swimming, and any other activities or sports that make you sweat are recommended.

The greatest technique to burn fat is with aerobic activity because you tend to gain weight anywhere on their body. Treatments for suppressing appetite, lipolytic acupuncture, and sitz baths can all aid in your weight control.                                   

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4. Shaoyin Type

Small in stature and with well-developed hips, you are prone to anxiety and digestive issues. Your weak constitution with a well-developed lower body makes you prone to edema. 

Short, low-energy, aerobic exercises are good for you such as brisk walking, swimming, upper body exercises. To help burn fat, stretch your hips and thighs regularly. 

Warm and soft foods are the best options. Moxabustion is an efficient treatment for constitutional cold that can cause edema and poor circulation. It is also beneficial to employ high frequency treatment to eliminate waste in the body. 

                                                    

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Four Constitutions   https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0025696