Herbal Medicine I - Constitution

Question 1

Constitution

Answer 1

Our ‘constitution’ is based on whether we are dominated by heat, cold, dryness or moisture:
* Constitution gives us characteristic physical and mental strengths.
* It also leads to specific tendencies to imbalance / disease.
* Good health depends on making diet, and lifestyle choices that keep our energy in balance.

Question 2

Hot constitutions

Answer 2

Energetic, creative, courageous, but tend to get inflamed, stressed, irritable. Keep diet and lifestyle ‘cool’ and ‘calm’ (cold drinks, raw foods, fresh air, bitter, detoxifying herbs).

Question 3

Cold constitutions

Answer 3

Steady, composed, resilient, but tend to have poor circulation, tense muscles, weak digestion, low mood. Keep diet and lifestyle ‘warm’ and ‘stimulated’ (warm food and drinks, spicy herbs).

Question 4

Dry constitutions

Answer 4

Quick, adaptable, but tend to get dry skin and mucosa, stiff joints, weight loss, anxiety. Keep diet and lifestyle ‘moist’ (fluids, soups, stews, mucilaginous herbs).

Question 5

Damp constitutions

Answer 5

Calm, reliable, kind, but tend to get mucus, lethargy, weight gain. Keep diet and lifestyle ‘dry’ and ‘warm’ (dry, spicy foods, astringent and diuretic herbs).