TCM Constitution Analysis Method Based on Parallel FP-Growth Algorithm in Hadoop Framework.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitution is a fundamental concept in TCM theory. It is determined by multimodal TCM clinical features which, in turn, are obtained from TCM clinical information of image (face, tongue, etc.), audio (pulse and voice), and text (inquiry) modality. The auto assessment of TCM constitution is faced with two major challenges: (1) learning discriminative TCM clinical feature representations; (2) jointly processing the features using multimodal fusion techniques. The TCM Constitution Assessment System (TCM-CAS) is proposed to provide an end-to-end solution to this task, along with auxiliary functions to aid TCM researchers. To improve the results of TCM constitution prediction, the system combines multiple machine learning algorithms such as facial landmark detection, image segmentation, graph neural networks and multimodal fusion. Extensive experiments are conducted on a four-category multimodal TCM constitution dataset, and the proposed method achieves state-of-the-art accuracy. Provided with datasets containing annotations of diseases, the system can also perform automatic disease diagnosis from a TCM perspective.

Physical and mental health conditions of young college students with different Traditional Chinese Medicine constitutions in Zhejiang Province of China

Correlation between Tibetan and traditional Chinese medicine body constitutions: A cross-sectional study of Tibetan college students in the Tibet Autonomous Region

<p indent="0mm">Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitution theory, a foundational framework in TCM, categorizes human constitutions into nine distinct types according to the interplay of congenital endowment and acquired environmental factors: balanced constitution (BC), Yang deficiency constitution (YADC), Yin deficiency constitution (YIDC), Qi deficiency constitution (QDC), Qi stagnation constitution (QSC), phlegm–dampness constitution (PDC), dampness–heat constitution (DHC), blood stasis constitution (BSC), and inherited special constitution (ISC). Rooted in four principles (innate inheritance, life course development, psychosomatic integration, and environmental regulation), the theory addresses three core scientific questions: constitutional typeability, constitution–disease correlation, and constitutional adjustability. This paradigm emphasizes individual variability in physiological and psychological traits, aligning TCM with modern precision medicine by linking constitutional profiles to disease susceptibility, progression, and therapeutic responses. The human gut microbiota, a dynamic ecosystem of trillions of microorganisms, has emerged as a critical mediator of host health that influences nutrient metabolism, immune modulation, and neuroendocrine signaling. Emerging evidence reveals intricate associations between microbiota composition and TCM constitutions, primarily through a “strain–metabolite–signaling pathway” regulatory network. For example, the overproliferation of <italic>Clostridium</italic> <italic>scindens</italic> in DHC individuals elevates secondary bile acid (lithocholic acid) levels, which then activate the TGR5 receptor to induce intestinal hypersecretion and inflammatory responses. In PDC individuals, the butyrate produced by <italic>Faecalibacterium</italic> <italic>prausnitzii</italic> enhances insulin sensitivity via GPR41/43-mediated GLP-1 secretion, thus mitigating metabolic dysregulation. Geographical and dietary factors further modulate these relationships. High-fat diets increase the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, correlated with DHC prevalence through LPS/TLR4 pathway activation. Meanwhile, <italic>Prevotella</italic>-enriched microbiomes in subtropical regions (e.g., Lingnan) reduce DHC-associated BMI via branched-chain amino acid catabolism. Constitutional imbalances are often mirrored in microbiota dysbiosis. PDC individuals exhibit increased Firmicutes abundance and reduced Bacteroidetes count, both linked to enhanced energy extraction and adipose accumulation. YIDC is characterized by depleted <italic>Bifidobacterium</italic> and <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> populations and elevated pathobionts, compromising gut barrier function and immune homeostasis. The “gut–brain axis” adds another dimension: microbiota-derived neurotransmitters (e.g., GABA and 5-HT) influence emotional regulation, which is consistent with TCM’s “body–mind unity” concept. For instance, the reduced <italic>Flavonifractor</italic> <italic>plautii</italic> and phytosphingosine levels in PDC correlate with metabolic syndrome and psychological symptoms, highlighting the microbiota’s role in constitutional psychology. TCM interventions offer multifaceted strategies to modulate constitutions and microbiota. Herbal formulas such as Gegen Qinlian Tang promote beneficial bacteria (e.g., <italic>Bifidobacterium</italic>) while inhibiting pathogens, thereby improving gut microecology and metabolic parameters in DHC. Dietary therapies (e.g., high-fiber diets for QSC) and acupuncture indirectly regulate microbiota via neuroendocrine pathways. Modern microbiome therapies, including fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and probiotics, align with TCM’s historical use of microbial interventions (e.g., ancient FMT records) to restore constitutional balance. This bidirectional interaction forms a “genetic-stable/microbial-dynamic” system: core microbiota taxa (e.g., <italic>Bacteroides</italic> and <italic>Firmicutes</italic>) maintained across generations support constitutional stability, whereas environmental factors (such as diet, stress, and antibiotics) induce rapid microbiota shifts via short-chain fatty acid and bile acid signaling. Constitutions differ from TCM syndromes in stability: the former reflect long-term physiological patterns, whereas the latter represent dynamic pathological states with immediate microbiota associations. Challenges for future research include clarifying causal mechanisms, standardizing constitutional assessment with microbiota-derived biomarkers, and addressing ethnic/geographical microbiota variations. By leveraging AI and big data analytics, researchers may develop microbiota-based predictive models for constitutional typing to expand or revise the traditional nine-type taxonomy. Integrating TCM’s holistic philosophy with microbiome science could unlock personalized interventions—such as tailored herbal–microbiome cocktails—to optimize constitutional balance, enhance disease prevention, and bridge traditional and modern medicine.

This study sought to explore the utility of machine learning models in predicting insomnia severity based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitution classifications, with an aim to discuss the potential applications of such models in the treatment and prevention of insomnia. We analyzed a dataset of 165 insomnia patients from the Shanghai Minhang District Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital. TCM constitution was assessed using a standardized Constitution in Chinese Medicine (CCM) scale. Sleep quality, or insomnia severity, was evaluated using the Spiegel Sleep Questionnaire (SSQ). Machine learning models, including Random Forest Classifier (RFC), Support Vector Classifier (SVC), and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), were utilized. These models were optimized using Grid Search algorithm and were trained and tested on stratified patient data, with the TCM constitution classifications serving as primary predictors. The RFC outperformed others, achieving a weighted average accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score of 0.91, 0.94, 0.92, and 0.92 respectively, it also effectively classified the severity of insomnia with high area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) values. Feature importance analysis demonstrated the Damp-heat constitution as the most influential predictor, followed by Yang-deficiency, Qi-depression, Qi-deficiency, and Blood-stasis constitutions. The results demonstrate the potent utility of machine learning, specifically RFC, coupled with TCM constitution classifications in predicting insomnia severity. Notably, the constitution classifications such as Damp-heat and Yang-deficiency emerged as crucial determinants, emphasizing its potential in guiding targeted insomnia treatments. This approach enables the development of more personalized and efficient interventions, thereby enhancing patient outcomes.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution (TCMC) theory states that individuals with a biased TCMC are more likely to suffer from specific diseases. However, little is known regarding the influence of TCMC on susceptibility to hypertension. The aim of this study is to examine the possible relationship between TCMC and hypertension. Retrospective evaluation and observation were performed using the STROBE guidelines checklist. A large community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between 2009 and 2013 in Changsha, China. TCMC was assessed using a questionnaire that included 68 items. TCMC distributions and the associations of different TCMCs with hypertension risk were analyzed. In total, 144,439 subjects underwent evaluations of TCMC and blood pressure (BP). There were significant differences in the hypertension prevalence among the various TCMC groups (P < .01). An adjusted logistic regression model indicated that those with phlegm wetness, yin deficiency, blood stasis, or qi deficiency were more likely to have hypertension. Analysis of the clinical characteristics related to TCMC indicated that different TCMCs corresponded to different hypertension classifications using Western medicine criteria; for example, phlegm wetness with hypertension was similar to obesity-related hypertension. Our results suggest that phlegm wetness, yin deficiency, blood stasis, and qi deficiency have different effects on the prevalence of hypertension. More attention should be paid to TCMCs associated with susceptibility to hypertension, and corresponding preventive and therapeutic treatments should be developed according to different TCMCs.

Personality and sleep quality among nursing interns: Traditional Chinese medicine constitution as a mediator and sedentary time as a moderator

Objective The aim of this study was to systematically summarize and form an expert consensus on the theoretical experience of tongue and facial features for the identification of nine types of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitution. Additionally, we sought to explore the feasibility of TCM constitution identification through objective tongue and facial features. Methods We used Delphi method to investigate the opinions of experts on facial and tongue feature items for identifying TCM constitution. We developed and validated a diagnostic nomogram for blood stasis constitution (BSC) based on objective facial and tongue features to demonstrate the reliability of expert consultation. Results Eleven experts participated in two rounds of expert consultation. The recovery rates of the two rounds of expert consultation were 100.0% and 90.9%. After the first round, 39 items were screened out from 147 initial items, and 2 items were supplemented by experts. In the second round, 7 items were eliminated, leaving 34 items for 8 types of TCM constitution. The coefficient of variation in the first round was 0.11–0.49 for the 147 items and 0.11–0.29 for the included items. The coefficient of variation in the second round was 0.10–0.27 for the 41 items and 0.10–0.20 for the included items. The W value was 0.548 (P < 0.001) in the first round and 0.240 (P < 0.001) in the second round. Based on expert consultation, we selected BSC as an example and developed and validated a diagnostic nomogram consisting of six indicators: sex, hair volume, lip color-dark purple, susceptibility-facial pigmentation/chloasma/ecchymosis, zygomatic texture-red blood streaks, and sublingual vein-varicose and dark purple. The nomogram showed good discrimination (AUC: 0.917 [95% confidence interval [CI], 0.877–0.956] for the primary dataset, 0.902 [95% CI, 0.828–0.976] for the validation dataset) and good calibration. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the nomogram was clinically useful. Conclusion This is the first study to systematically summarize the existing knowledge and clinical experience to form an expert consensus on the tongue and facial features of nine types of TCM constitution. Our results will provide important prior knowledge and expert experience for future constitution identification research. Based on expert consultation, this study presents a nomogram for BSC that incorporates objective facial and tongue features, which can be conveniently used to facilitate the individualized identification of BSC.

Traditional Chinese Medicine constitution among patients with allergic rhinitis and its correlation with anxiety and depression.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) and is a type of allergic diseases caused by an inflammation of the nasal mucosa caused by allergens. Clinically, AR is a common allergic disease and is difficult to treat. Due to differences in individual constitutions also known as body type, the severity of the disease is also different and it may even affect the daily life of the patient if it is severe. The effective treatment of AR has become a hot topic in current allergic disease research. Traditional Chinese Medicine’s understanding of constitution is based on the “Yellow Emperor’s Internal Classic” book, and Professor Wang Qi put forward the “physical constitution theory of traditional Chinese medicine”. The constitution is a key internal factor of the occurrence and development of diseases. It is believed in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that the constitution can be regulated, and rectifying the patient’s imbalanced constitution has a positive effect on the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of the disease. Therefore, based on the “physical constitution theory of TCM”, this study considers the idea of treating body differently applying TCM constitution in the treatment of AR as the breakthrough point, and explores the correlation between AR and TCM constitution. The results show that TCM constitution is an intrinsic factor affecting the pathogenesis of AR. The use of TCM constitution theory in the treatment of AR has a positive effect and should be popularized in application.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has guided health maintenance and disease treatment for thousands of years and has been widely used in many countries around the world. TCM regards each individual as unique so all corresponding therapeutic and preventive approaches in TCM are personalized. Personalized medicine, also referred to as precision medicine, is an emerging medical paradigm that points toward a new direction for future medical development. TCM constitution studies the holistic body condition, which is affected by both inborn and acquired factors. Body constitution lays the foundation for disease diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Different constitution types predispose individuals to different disease susceptibilities. Examining an individual's unique body constitution can promote effective health management and benefit the application of personalized medicine significantly. This review will introduce and discuss the application of the TCM constitution for health maintenance and disease prevention. In last decade, a number of modern techniques have been employed in the constitution research to evaluate the health status of individuals. The TCM constitution reflects the current status and future trends of human health in four aspects, i.e., individual differences, life processes, psychological condition and adaptability to natural and social environments. This TCM constitution theory has already been applied in the Chinese public health management at different levels with promising outcome. The constitution theory and practice provide a new approach for health maintenance and disease prevention.

Integrative analysis of microbiota and metabolomics in individuals exhibiting different TCM constitutions utilizing 16S rDNA sequencing and LC/MS metabolomics.

In this paper, artificial neural network architecture is introduced to predict the Yin-Yang index of body constitution in traditional Chinese medicine (BCTCM). With pre-processing the inputting data by the median, the collected data is more consistent with the exact value of the characteristic parameters of BCTCM. Quasi-Newton algorithm is used to train the network model to accelerate the convergence speed of network training. Experiments show that, the result showed that they had good prediction accuracies for BCTTCM. The mean absolute error for 10 true measured points was 0.034. Therefore, the prediction model of BCTCM Yin-Yang index with BP neural network is doable.

Exploration of influential factors about deficiency constitution of Traditional Chinese Medicine based on multi-methods.

Pulse-taking is widely used for diagnosis and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and protein complexes in serum perform various biological functions. The Balanced constitution is one of the major constitutions in TCM, people with Balanced constitution can also share some common characteristics with unbalanced constitution types. Blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) was applied to the serum of 25 people with balanced constitutions. The patterns of the protein complexes could be recognized according to the number, molecular weight, and intensity of the gel bands. All of the individual bands from these patterns were cut and in-gel-digested with trypsin, followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis for protein identification and biological function analysis. The protein complex patterns were roughly categorized as type A and B with high stability and reproducibility, and there were 15 and 16 gel bands in type A and type B, respectively. Among the 25 serum samples, 14 belonged to type A, and 11 belonged to type B. High-abundance proteins significantly decreased from 99% to 44% after BN-PAGE separation. The unique proteins in type A were mainly related to lipid metabolism, while the unique proteins in type B were involved in biological processes related to immune response and inflammatory regulation. The Qi-deficiency constitution converted score of type A was higher than that of type B, while the Damp-heat constitution converted score of type A was lower than that of type B. Our study provided an objective reference for diagnosis and prognosis, which might lay a foundation for establishing the characteristic protein complex spectra of all of the TCM constitutions.