Qi Deficiency Body Type

If you have a qi deficiency body constitution, you might frequently feel fatigued, bloated, and unable to concentrate. It is important for you to make dietary and lifestyle choices that can build more qi, or you can be as risk for serious illness and disease. If you do, you can feel healthy and happy for many years to come.Reading time: 8 minutesDon't know your body type? Take the "My Body Type Quiz."What is qi deficiency?A qi deficiency constitution has deficiency of qi and/or blood. Qi deficiency can result from weak prenatal qi. A weak and dysfunctional spleen can worsen symptoms associated with qi deficiency as well. Overwork, intensive physical labor (for example as with professional athletes), long-term dieting, and bottled-up emotions and depression can all worsen qi deficiency. Many students who study long hours suffer from lifestyle induced qi deficiency.Qi is the vital life force or energy that flows through channels in the body. With adequate qi, people can live a long and healthy life. In general qi deficiency can be caused by a weakness in any one of the three areas in which you acquire qi: 1) air, 2) food & water, and 3) inherited jing (prenatal qi essence).What causes a qi deficiency constitution?Firstly, you can thank your parents. A qi deficiency body constitution most often results from weakness in Inherited Jing (congenital or inborn qi). When you have weak prenatal qi, you need to make sure to fill the gap with acquired sources of qi in order to have a strong defense system and abundant health.Much like the concept of genetics in western medicine, according to TCM, at conception your parents set your foundational energetic nature. Wang Chong, a Chinese medicine practitioner in the 1st century CE writes that:Strength and long life, weakness and short life are connected with the copiousness and scarcity of the receive qi…When the qi is copious, the body becomes strong, and the body being strong, life lasts long. On the other hand, when the vital force is scanty, the body is weak, and with a weak body, life is short…A short life is accompanied by much sickness.You will read later that your health destiny is not sealed in stone. Although you might have been born with a weakened constitution, lifestyle choices can further weaken or, more importantly, strengthen your life force.You can feel betterHere is the good news. If you currently have a qi deficiency body constitution, you have the power be healthier. You might have a predisposition to this body constitution, but lifestyle choices continue to weaken qi in your body. Changing your dietary, exercise, and emotional habits can radically shift you from qi deficiency to neutral, the ideal, yin and yang balanced, healthy state.Here are some general patterns associated with a qi deficiency body constitution. You may have overcome some of these tendencies with lifestyle choices you make. Well done! Read on to learn how to improve your health further.Common physical symptoms of qi deficiency constitutionFatigue, especially after a mealPoor concentrationFeeling of being overly full, bloating, soft stoolCold hands and feetCravings for sweets, or just a preference for sweet foodLow voiceShortness of breathPoor appetiteSweat easilyTongue is large and pal with teeth marksWeak pulse (as measured in Chinese medicine)Common physical characteristicsWithout training, muscles feel soft and don’t have strengthCommon emotional characteristicsPeople with qi deficiency constitution oftenAre introvertedLike being quietDo not like to talk too muchHave a timid personalityGreatest health risks for qi deficiency constitution Catches colds easily and is frequently sickTends to have prolapsed internal organsSlow to recover from illness with a long rehabilitation periodLow blood pressurePuffinessConstipationExcess sweatingSkin pigmentationIntolerant to external pathogens like wind, cold, summer heat, and dampnessHow to off-set your qi deficiency constitution through dietPeople with qi deficiency should eat neutral, slightly sweet, and warm foods that can replenish qi and strengthen spleen functioning. Eating on a fixed schedule to strengthen digestion in order to create more qi is essential. Following the Chinese medicine body clock, you should eat a large breakfast between 7:00-9:00 AM, an even larger lunch between 11:00 AM-1:00 PM, and a light dinner between 5:00-7:00 PM.Additionally, if you have a qi deficiency constitution, you should not snack between meals. Snacking puts a strain on your digestive system and weakens your qi even further. Another great dietary tool is to eat foods warm and bitter in nature. Some examples include jujubes, or Chinese dates and lily bulb. You should definitely eat only cooked foods, because eating raw foods further weakens you energy. Imagine Super Man around kryptonite. Cold food, as well as fatty and sweet foods also cause major issues for people with qi deficiency.Two final tips about dietary changes you should make. First of all, limit your alcohol consumption. Alcohol depletes qi. Secondly, avoid over-eating and over-drinkingTherefore, adjust how you eat by making sure you only eat to 70% full.Foods to addPeople with a qi deficiency constitution should add foods that tonify and strengthen qi. These foods are great choices.barleybean curd (tofu)beefcarrotschickenChinese yamfish - black carpfish - silver carpgoose jujubeslily bulbmilletmushrooms - poriamushrooms - shiitake (xianggu)polished non-glutinous ricepotatoesquailricesteel cut oatsJujubes, also called Chinese datesFoods and beverages to avoidIf you have a qi deficiency constitution, you want to avoid items that deplete your qi, such as the following items:alcoholbasilbergamut rootbetel nutsbuckwheatraw carrotscoriander (cilantro)garlicgrapefruitgreen teahawthorn berrieskumquatsmintmustardorangespepperradishesraw fruits and vegetablesscallionstangerinestobaccoturnipswater chestnutswhite chrysanthemumPeople with qi deficiency should not drink green tea. Get YourFree Digital 2-Week Meal Plan, with Shopping Lists and RecipesYou can easily eat healthier for your body type. Sign-up to get your free 2-Week Meal Plan sent straight to your inbox. Includes VEGAN options! How to strengthen your qi with lifestyle changesRelax your mindFurthermore, extreme emotions like anger, grief, anxiety, and fear can weaken and harm your Yuan qi. Yuan qi provides the foundation for your immune system. Strong emotions increase the likelihood of physical illness.Ideally, work to live harmoniously with people around you. Secondly, if you feel negative emotions, express them as soon as you feel them. Learning the lessons you need to learn from negative emotions is beneficial, but then let go. Finally, the goal is to then return to a balanced emotional state to strengthen your qi and health. Put yourself into positions where you can love others and be loved in return. Most importantly, love yourself. Even if that feels hard sometimes, celebrate the little miracles of your body. The fact that your body knows how to breathe, how to circulate blood, etc. Notice the miracle of your uniqueness. Whether you feel good or bad about the person you are, the fact that no one else thinks, feels, and experiences the world as you do is a miracle.Guided meditation to balance your emotionsQi deficiency puts you at risk for emotional imbalance, and even more serious emotional disturbance.Clearing blockages in your body will also allow you to release negative emotions you might be holding onto. Once the blockages clear away, you can build emotional armor to keep you healthy with a calm mind. This guided meditation will help you start your emotional healing.How to exercise for your qi deficiency constitutionTaking regular walk outdoors will strengthen your qi. Breathe deeply as you walk. Air qi will flow into your lungs and add to the qi you acquire from food. When you walk, make sure to wear layers to keep warm. It is especially important to keep your neck warm. Also, you should avoid physically strenuous exercise. Rapid breathing or holding your breath during any type of exercise will further harm your qi as well.Additionally, avoid mental and sexual strain, in order to replenish your qi. Your ultimate goal is to come back into yin and yang harmonious balance.Quick qigong exercisesMoving consistently throughout your day is a better way to breathe in fresh air and calm your mind than doing a one-hour workout. Enjoy this sample of a quick, qigong exercise to pump your qi. Acupressure massage to strengthen your digestionA strong digestive system will help your body produce essential qi. This abdominal massage is perfect to do after each meal to strengthen your digestive energy. My Body Constitution QuizDon't know your TCM body constitution? Take the quiz!Qi Deficiency Constitution ReferencesDeadman, P. (2016). Live Well Live LongYanfu, Z. (2002). Life Cultivation & Rehabilitation of Traditional Chinese MedicineYao, H. & Guo, W. (2001). Chinese Food Life CareZhang, L. (2017) A TCM Way to be Healthy Inside and Outhttp://www.shen-nong.com/eng/lifestyles/food_body_constitutions.html