Studies on the psychosomatic functioning of ill-health according to Eastern and Western medicine. 4. The verification of possible links between ill-health, lifestyle illness and stress-related disease.
Takeichi M,Sato T
The American journal of Chinese medicine
In our previous reports on the same general topic, we exploited research in Oriental psychosomatic medicine to obtain diagnoses through visual observation of the sublingual vein (useful for the early detection of vital energy stagnation and blood stasis) from a computerized color analysis of the tongue proper, its coating, and the sublingual vein. This led us to develop the concept of the anxiety-affinitive constitution, based on unbalanced qi, blood, and body fluid in ill-health as a causative factor for stress-related diseases and lifestyle illnesses. As a development of this research, the present report examines the verification of possible links of ill-health, lifestyle illness, and stress-related disease through the diagnosis and treatment of functional subclinical psychosomatic disorders detected as a clinical expression of the anxiety-affinitive constitution. First, a diagnosis of functional subclinical psychosomatic disorders (ill-health) in 197 medical school students, including 156 first-year students at medical and nursing schools made it clear that the trait anxiety forming the core of the anxiety-affinitive constitution is linked to Dr. Lester Breslow's seven good health habits, and the manner of respiration. Second, it was revealed during the treatment of functional subclinical psychosomatic disorders in eight medical students that kampo medication and relaxation training (RT) produce lowered scores for STAI trait anxiety, and transform respiration from thoracic pattern to a balanced thoracic and abdominal respiratory pattern. This was particularly true for RT. Finally, we concluded that a high score for trait anxiety correlates to the formation of inappropriate health habits, and the habituation of inadequate respiration (thoracic pattern). Therefore, lifestyle illness or stress-related diseases will develop unless an anxiety-affinitive constitution is improved with kampo medication and/or RT.
10.1142/S0192415X00000040
The effect of Chinese food therapy on community dwelling Chinese hypertensive patients with Yin-deficiency.
Shen Cuizhen,Pang Samantha Mei-Che,Kwong Enid Wai-Yung,Cheng Zhiqing
Journal of clinical nursing
OBJECTIVES:The objectives of this study are to evaluate the effectiveness of Chinese food therapy in correcting the Yin-deficiency and to examine its impact on the patients' quality of life and hypertension control. BACKGROUND:Epidemiological studies have shown 14-50% of people with hypertension have Yin-deficiency. Whether restoring the Yin-Yang balance by means of Chinese food therapy can help to better manage patients with hypertension has yet to be examined. DESIGN:Two groups randomised controlled trial. METHODS:Eighty-five hypertensive patients recruited from two community health service centre were divided into two groups. The intervention group (n = 48) received specific dietary instructions and corresponding management of their antihypertensive medication if indicated and brief health education, whilst the control group (n = 37) received routine support involving only brief health education. Data were collected at baseline, after intervention at four, eight, 12 and 16 weeks follow-up. Comparisons were made to examine the effects of Chinese food therapy on Yin-deficiency symptoms, blood pressure and quality of life of hypertensive patients. RESULTS:The intervention group had reduction in the numbers of antihypertensive medication taken as well as improvement in most of the Yin-deficiency symptoms after 12 weeks of Chinese food therapy and mean scores of several SF-36 dimensions were higher than that of in the control group after 12 and 16 weeks follow-up. Significant difference was found in systolic blood pressure in the intervention group when it was compared from baseline to after four and eight weeks respectively. CONCLUSION:Chinese Food Therapy can restore body constitution with Yin-Yang imbalance and may potentially improve hypertensive patients' quality of life. It is also beneficial in controlling blood pressure in hypertensive patients. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE:Chinese food therapy may become a complementary therapy in health care and it should be a component of nursing education and health education.
10.1111/j.1365-2702.2009.02937.x
Case-control study on the associations between lifestyle-behavioral risk factors and phlegm-wetness constitution.
Zhu Yanbo,Wang Qi,Dai Zhaoyu,Origasa Hideki,Di Jie,Wang Yangyang,Lin Lin,Fan Chunpok
Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan
OBJECTIVE:To explore the relationships between different lifestyle-behavioral factors and phlegm-wetness type of Traditional Chinese Medicine constitution, so as to provide health management strategies for phlegm-wetness constitution. METHODS:A case-control study was conducted with the cases selected from the database of Chinese constitution survey in 9 provinces or municipalities of China. 1380 cases met the diagnostic criteria of phlegm-wetness type were taken as the case group, and 1380 cases were randomly selected from gentleness type as the control group. Using Chi-square test to compare the differences of lifestyle-behavior composition in each group; single factor and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to compare the relationships of lifestyle-behavioral factors and phlegm-wetness type. RESULTS:There were statistically significant differences between phlegm-wetness type group and gentleness type group in lifestyle behaviors (dietary habits, tobacco and liquor consumptions, exercise habits, sleeping habits). The results of single factor logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the risk of phlegm-wetness constitution decreased significantly in light diet (odds ratio, OR = 0.68); The risk factors of phlegm-wetness type were fatty food intake (OR = 2.36), sleeping early and getting up late (OR = 1.87), tobacco smoking (OR = 1.83), barbecued food intake (OR = 1.68), alcohol drinking (OR = 1.63), salty food intake (OR = 1.44), sleeping erratically (OR = 1.43), less physical activities (OR = 1.42), sweet food intake (OR = 1.29), sleeping and getting up late (OR = 1.26), and pungent food intake (OR = 1.21), respectively. Regardless of the interaction among lifestyle-behavioral factors, the results of the multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk factors of phlegm-wetness type were sleeping early and getting up late (OR = 1.94), fatty food intake (OR = 1.80), tobacco smoking (OR = 1.50), sleeping erratically (OR = 1.50), barbecued food intake (OR = 1.40), sleeping and getting up late (OR = 1.40), less physical activities (OR = 1.31), sleeping late and getting up early (OR = 1.27), and sweet food intake (OR = 1.27, respectively, and the risk of phlegm-wetness type still decreased significantly in light food intake (OR = 0.79). CONCLUSION:Light diet can decrease the risk of being phlegm-wetness constitution, and bad lifestyle behaviors such as sleeping early and getting up late, sleeping erratically, fatty food, barbecued food or sweet food intake, tobacco and liquor consumptions, and less physical activities can increase the risks of becoming phlegm-wetness constitution.
10.1016/s0254-6272(14)60092-3
Characteristics of TCM constitutions of adult Chinese women in Hong Kong and identification of related influencing factors: a cross-sectional survey.
Sun Youzhi,Liu Pei,Zhao Yi,Jia Lei,He Yanhua,Xue Steve An,Zheng Xiao,Wang Zhiyu,Wang Neng,Chen Jianping
Journal of translational medicine
BACKGROUND:Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution (TCMC) refers to an integrated, metastable and natural specialty of individual in morphosis, physiological functions and psychological conditions. It is formed on the basis of innate and acquired endowments in the human life process, which can be divided into normal constitution and unbalanced ones. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of TCMCs of Chinese women in Hong Kong and its acquired influencing factors. METHODS:Local Chinese women between 30 to 65 years old, were recruited from 18 districts of Hong Kong (n=944), and were assessed using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Physical Constitution Scale for their TCMC types. Social-demographic, reproductive, lifestyle, systemic health and emotional status information were collected through structured questionnaire. The associations between different independent factors and each TCMC type, as well as the complex unbalanced TCMC types were tested individually. Significant factors related to unbalanced TCMC types were identified in final models using multiple factor analysis. RESULTS:A total of 764 (80.9%) participants were diagnosed with unbalanced TCMCs. The most common TCMC type was Qi-deficiency constitution (53.9%), followed by Phlegm-wetness (38.9%), Yang-deficiency (38.2%), Yin-deficiency (35.5), Blood-stasis (35.4) and Qi-depressed (31%) constitution. Six hundred and eleven participants (64.7%) had at least two types of combined and unbalanced constitutions. Stepwise logistic analysis indicated that poor systemic health condition (OR, 1.76-2.89), negative emotions (OR=1.39), overweight (OR=1.58), high educational level (OR=1.18) and mental work (OR=1.44) were significantly positively correlated with certain unbalanced TCMCs. Meanwhile, aging (OR, 0.59-0.73), exercise habit (OR, 0.61-0.79) and reproductive history (OR=0.72) showed inverse associations with unbalanced constitutions. In addition, systemic health condition and emotional status, exercise habit and age were significantly associated with the combined unbalanced TCMC types. CONCLUSION:The majority of middle-aged Chinese women in Hong Kong had unbalanced and complex TCMCs. Qi-deficiency, Phlegm-wetness and Yang-deficiency constitutions are the most common constitutions. Poor systemic health condition, less-than-satisfactory emotional life, overweight and mental work are associated with and may be contributors for the formation of unbalanced TCMCs, while regular physical exercise was found to be a potential protective factor for unbalanced TCMCs.
10.1186/1479-5876-12-140
Alterations in gut microbiota and urine metabolomics in infants with yin-deficiency constitution aged 0-2 years.
Heliyon
Background:Based on the constitution theroy, infants are classified into balanced constitution (BC) and unbalanced constitution. Yin-deficiency constitution (YINDC) is a common type of unbalanced constitutions in Chinese infants. An infant's gut microbiota directly affects the child's health and has long-term effects on the maturation of the immune and endocrine systems throughout life. However, the gut microbiota of infants with YINDC remains unknown. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the intestinal flora profiles and urinary metabolites in infant with YINDC, find biomarkers to identify YINDC, and promote our understanding of infant constitution classification. Methods:Constitutional Medicine Questionnaires were used to assess the infants' constitution types. 47 infants with 21 cases of YINDC and 26 cases of BC were included, and a cross-sectional sampling of stool and urine was conducted. Fecal microbiota was characterized using 16S rRNA sequencing, and urinary metabolomics was profiled using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS method. YINDC markers with high accuracy were identified using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results:The diversity and composition of intestinal flora and urinary metabolites differed significantly between the YINDC and BC groups. A total of 13 obviously different genera and 55 altered metabolites were identified. Stool microbiome shifts were associated with urine metabolite changes. A combined marker comprising two genera may have a high potential to identify YINDC with an AUC of 0.845. Conclusions:Infants with YINDC had a unique gut microbiota and metabolomic profile resulting in a constitutional microclassification. The altered gut microbiome in YINDC may account for the higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. Metabolomic analysis of urine showed that metabolic pathways, including histidine metabolism, proximal tubule bicarbonate reclamation, arginine biosynthesis, and steroid hormone biosynthesis, were altered in infants with YINDC. Additionally, the combined bacterial biomarker had the ability to identify YINDC. Identifying YINDC in infancy and intervening at an early stage is crucial for preventing cardiovascular diseases.
10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14684
Intestinal Microbiota-Associated Metabolites: Crucial Factors in the Effectiveness of Herbal Medicines and Diet Therapies.
Frontiers in physiology
Although the efficacy of herbal medicines (HMs) and traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) in human diseases has long been recognized, their development has been hindered in part by a lack of a comprehensive understanding of their mechanisms of action. Indeed, most of the compounds extracted from HMs can be metabolized into specific molecules by host microbiota and affect pharmacokinetics and toxicity. Moreover, HMs modulate the constitution of host intestinal microbiota to maintain a healthy gut ecology. Dietary interventions also show great efficacy in treating some refractory diseases, and the commensal microbiota potentially has significant implications for the high inter-individual differences observed in such responses. Herein, we mainly discuss the contribution of the intestinal microbiota to high inter-individual differences in response to HMs and TCMs, and especially the already known metabolites of the HMs produced by the intestinal microbiota. The contribution of commensal microbiota to the inter-individual differences in response to dietary therapy is also briefly discussed. This review highlights the significance of intestinal microbiota-associated metabolites to the efficiency of HMs and dietary interventions. Our review may help further identify the mechanisms leading to the inter-individual differences in the effectiveness of HM and dietary intervention from the perspective of their interactions with the intestinal microbiota.
10.3389/fphys.2019.01343
[Relationship between Life Habits and Constitution Types of Chinese Medicine in the Senile Living at Home in Beijing Downtown].
Shi Mai,Liu Zhao-lan,Xu Mei-yan,Chen Jie,Lin Bing,Yu Yong-chao,Ma Xiao-tao
Zhongguo Zhong xi yi jie he za zhi Zhongguo Zhongxiyi jiehe zazhi = Chinese journal of integrated traditional and Western medicine
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the distribution of constitution types of Chinese medicine (CM) in the elderly living at home in Beijing downtown, and to explore its relationship with life habits. METHODS:A total of 3894 senile more than 60 years old were enrolled in this study. Their constitution types of CM were typed using CM constitution questionnaire. Meanwhile, their demographic features, disease condition, diet habits, exercise habits, sleep habits, and so on were investigated. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between life habits and constitution types of CM. RESULTS:The number of mild type constitution senile was 1111 (28.53%) and the number of biased constitutions 2783 (71.47%). Biased constitutions of the top three were qi deficiency constitution (662, 17.00%), yang deficiency constitution (445, 11.43%), and blood stasis constitution (363, 9.32%). Univariate analysis showed that different habits of diet, exercise, and sleep exist among the senile of different constitutions (P < 0.05). By taking mild type constitution, multivariate Logistic regression analysis (except demographic indices and chronic history) showed that significantly positive correlation existed between qi deficiency constitution and favor for hot food (OR = 1.349, P = 0.015), yang deficiency constitution and favor for hot food (OR = 2.448, P < 0.01), phlegm-wetness constitution and favor for barbecue food (OR = 2.144, P = 0.003), wet-heat constitution and favor for sweet food (OR = 1.355, P = 0.032), wet-heat constitution and favor for tea (OR = 1.359, P = 0.047), blood stasis constitution and favor for hot food (OR = 1.422, P = 0.017), and qi depression constitution and favor for hot food (OR = 1.446, P = 0.031). Regular exercise had negative correlation with qi deficiency constitution (OR = 0.397, P < 0.01), yang deficiency constitution (OR = 0.522, P < 0.01) , phlegm-wetness constitution (OR = 0.475, P < 0.01), wet-heat constitution (OR = 0.647, P = 0.015), blood stasis constitution (OR = 0.608, P = 0.001), qi depression constitution (OR = 0.541, P = 0.001), and special diathesis constitution (OR = 0.466, P < 0.01). Early sleep and rise habit had negative with phlegm-wetness constitution (OR = 0.414, P < 0.01), wet-heat constitution (OR = 0.536, P = 0.015), blood stasis constitution (OR = 0.515, P = 0.004), and special diathesis constitution (OR = 0.526, P = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS:Different constitution types of CM might be highly related to specific life habits. Cultivating better life habits can improve biased constitutions of CM.
Gut microbiome and metabolome alterations in traditional Chinese medicine damp-heat constitution following treatment with a Chinese patent medicine and lifestyle intervention.
Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
BACKGROUND:The gut microbiota is crucial in human health and diseases. Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution (TCMC) divides people into those with a balanced constitution (Ping-he [PH]) and those with an unbalanced constitution. Dampness-heat constitution (Shi-re [SR]) is a common unbalanced constitution in the Chinese population and is susceptible to diseases. However, unbalanced constitutions can be regulated by Chinese medicine and lifestyle interventions in clinical practice. Ermiao Pill (EMP) is a Chinese medicine known for clearing heat and draining dampness and improving SR. However, the efficacy and mechanism of EMP are unclear. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE:To determine alterations in the gut microbiota and metabolome in SR and any changes after EMP treatment combined with lifestyle intervention. STUDY DESIGN:Randomized clinical trial. METHODS:We enrolled 112 healthy SR individuals and evaluated the efficacy of EMP along with lifestyle interventions. We further assessed serum cytokine levels, serum and urinary metabolomes, and the gut microbiota by 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis before and after the EMP and lifestyle interventions. RESULTS:107 SR individuals (55 in the intervention group and 52 in the control group) completed the 1-month-intervention and 1-year-follow-up. The intervention group significantly improved their health status within 1 month, with a reduced SR symptom score, and the efficacy lasted to the 1-year follow-up. The control group needed a further 6 months to reduce the SR symptom score. The gut microbiota of PH individuals was more diverse and had significantly higher proportions of many bacterial species than the SR. Microbiota co-occurrence network analysis showed that SR enriches metabolites correlating with microbial community structure, consistent with traits of healthy SR-enriched microbiota. CONCLUSION:EMP combined with lifestyle intervention produced health benefits in SR individuals. Our study indicates a pivotal role of gut microbiota and metabolome alterations in distinguishing between healthy SR and PH. Furthermore, the study reveals structural changes of gut microbiota and metabolites induced by EMP and lifestyle intervention. The treatment enriched the number of beneficial bacteria, such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Lactobacillus in the gut. Our findings provide a strong indication that several metabolite factors are associated with the gut microbiota. Moreover, the gut microbiome and metabolome might be powerful tools for TCMC diagnosis and personalized therapy.
10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155787
Different traditional Chinese medicine constitution is associated with dietary and lifestyle behaviors among adults in Taiwan.
Medicine
The World Health Organization states prevention of chronic diseases should be based on good lifestyle behaviors and healthy diets as they can reduce the risk of chronic diseases by 80%. The theory of traditional Chinese medicine constitution (TCMC) emphasizes the congenital differences of TCMC stem from the genes of parents, while acquired differences in TCMC are caused by factors as living environments, lifestyle behaviors, and dietary habits. From the perspective of preventive medicine, this study explores the correlation between dietary habits and lifestyle behaviors as potential risk factors for different types of TCMC-balanced constitution, Yang deficiency, Yin deficiency, and Phlegm stasis. Research data were collected from 2760 subjects aged 30 to 70 years participating in a survey conducted by Taiwan Biobank in 2012 to 2017. The survey included basic demographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and dietary habits along with a Body Constitution Questionnaire. Compared to men, women were 3 to 4 times more likely to develop Yang-deficiency, Yin-deficiency, and Phlegm stasis. Variables that affected TCMC were smoking, midnight snack consumption, consumption of gravy-soaked or lard-soaked rice/noodles, deep-fried soybean products, bread spread, pickled vegetables as side dishes for the main course of a meal, and the dietary habit of vegetables or fruits instead of high-fat desserts. Poor dietary habits and lifestyle behaviors are the cause of unbalanced TCMCs. Understanding the specific TCMC of individual can provide useful information and predictions to maintain physical health and achieve early disease prevention to meet the goal of preventive medicine.
10.1097/MD.0000000000030692