Mental and physical self-care (news from the lecture) (Nov issue 2022)

Health through understanding of Body’s Constitution

Do you know what kind of constitution you belong to? Embarking on a health betterment regime without understanding one’s body constitution types, the result may be futile. 

I believe you will agree that ginseng is a very good Chinese medicine. It has the function of invigorating the vitality and calming the mind. But you will find that some after eating it, will see their vitality increased, but some will experienced headache or even nosebleeds. You prepare a dish that you think is delicious and nutritious, but some of your family’s members may don't think so. Do you feel sad? Don’t be, this is because there are body’s constitutions differences between people. I often tell my students that "to each his own body’s constitutions". 

Constitution is the quality conditions of our body which traced its formation from our congenital factors such as heredity and acquired factors such as diet, environment, living habits, emotional and other factors. We will naturally gravitate toward a particular taste which our constitutions need. So I always emphasize that before we beginning to prepare a medicated diet, we need to have a clear understanding of the constitutions of the person which we are preparing for, to address the respective constitutions needs and to regulate the individual’s health condition.

According to the latest body constitution classification developed by Professor Wang Qi from the Beijing University of TCM, there are 9 body constitutions types. 

• • Poor nutrition, resulting in Qi and Yang deficiency;


• • Excessive nutrition, promoting phlegm and dampness;


• • Salty diet, promote Yang deficiency, phlegm, dampness, blood stasis;


• • Prolong consumption of spicy food, aggravating damp - heatiness and Yin deficiency;


• • Eating supper, promote phlegm-dampness;


• • Do not eat breakfast, promote Qi Stagnation or phlegm-dampness:


• • Overwork, resulting  in Qi and Yin deficiency;

The Chinese Medicine advocates health consciousness through illnesses prevention and health betterment.
Most people are in a state of Sub-Health，although they seem normal and healthy, but occasionally they will feel uncomfortable, with some discomforts which are not serious enough to require medication, but at the same time cannot be ignored.
These functional disorder symptoms can be improved through appropriate TCM physical conditioning and changes in diet and lifestyle to create a healthy, neutral constitution.

In the course TCM Herbal Diet, I introduce the characteristics of different constitutions, the health problems association and the suitable daily medicated diet to mitigate their conditions.

Responsibility for text and illustrations : Dr Clement NG Shin Kiat

 Dr Clement Ng, Founder and Principal Consultant of TCMandYou Pte. Ltd., Doctor of Medicine (Chinese Medicine), MBA (Strategic Management). 

Dr Clement Ng is the Chairman of the Technical Committee for Complementary Medicine and Health Products in Singapore, formed under the Biomedical and Health Standards Committee of Singapore Standards Council. Dr Clement Ng is the President of Singapore Acupuncture Association. 

Dr Clement Ng has more than 25 years of cross-functional, progressive corporate management experience in public and private sectors, including Ministry of Community Development Youth and Sports, SingTel, ST Engineering, Eu Yan Sang and had held senior positions in different TCM organisations in Singapore. He is effectively bicultural and bilingual in English and Chinese. 

Dr Clement Ng received his Doctorate Degree in Medicine (Chinese Medicine) from Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine in China and his MBA in Strategic Management from Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. 

Dr Clement Ng, an International Chinese Medicine Trainer, has designed and facilitated bilingual (English and Chinese) Chinese Medicine, Health and Wellness courses and workshops for Corporate and those approved under the Singapore SkillsFuture Training framework. He was invited to share Chinese Medicne knowledge globally and through online learning platforms, reaching out to international students coming from more than 100 Äb0countries. 

Besides engaging in Professional Consultancy, Trading, Treatment and Training services, Dr Clement Ng is the Expert Committee Member for ISO/TC 249 (TCM) and Council Member for different Specialty Committees under The World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS). He was the former Vice President of the Singapore College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the founding Committee member of the Continuous Education Committee for Singapore TCM Practitioner’s Board.