TITLE:
Body Constitution-Based Disease Prevention Principles of Eastern Medicine
AUTHORS:
Xiarong Wang, Oyuntsetseg Namsrai, Narantuyа Bayarmagnai, Natsagdorj Damdinsuren, Altangerel Algaa, Munkhjargal Nyamjav, Tuul Khalzaibaast
KEYWORDS:
Mongolian Traditional Medicine, Body Constitution, Metabolic Energy, Disease Prevention, Dietary Management
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Preventive Medicine,
Vol.15 No.2,
February
28,
2025
ABSTRACT: In Eastern medicine, an individual’s health and longevity is believed to depend on the balance of their metabolic energies, classified as body constitution. Mongolian Traditional Medicine categorizes the body into seven constitution types based on metabolic dominance, influencing physical traits, behavioral tendencies, disease susceptibility, and adaptability to environmental factors. This study aims to analyze the principles of disease prevention based on body constitution in Eastern medicine, with a focus on Traditional Mongolian and Xizang medical perspectives. It looks to clarify body constitution classifications, explore dietary management strategies, and highlight their significance in maintaining health and preventing diseases. This study adopts a literature review approach, incorporating source analysis, synthesis, and hermeneutic methodology to examine traditional medical theories related to body constitution. Classical texts from Xizang medicine, including the rGyud-bZhi and Golden Subtitles, were analyzed alongside comparative research on Traditional Chinese and Korean constitutional medicine. The study integrates historical perspectives with modern biomedical insights to establish a comprehensive understanding of constitution-based health management. The findings indicate that the three principal metabolic energies—rLung, mKhris, and Bad-Kan—serve as symbolic codes representing physiological and metabolic states. By recognizing their body constitution, individuals can adopt constitutionally tailored dietary and lifestyle practices to maintain balance and prevent diseases. A comparative analysis reveals similarities and differences among different Eastern medical systems, while still demonstrating the potential for integrating constitutional medicine with modern healthcare approaches.