Allergic (Special) Constitution — TCM Food Therapy & Dietary Approach

Traditional Chinese Medicine Patterns

In TCM, this constitution is differentiated into several patterns, each with a classical herbal formula:

Lung-Spleen Qi Deficiency with Insecure Defensive Exterior (spontaneous sweating, aversion to wind, a pale bright complexion, susceptibility to wind, and sneezing, nasal congestion, and clear nasal discharge on exposure to cold)

Formula: Yupingfeng San (Jade Windscreen Powder): astragalus, atractylodes, and ledebouriella; traditionally used to boost qi, secure the exterior, stop sweating and ward off wind (Teachings of Master Danxi, by Zhu Zhenheng, Yuan dynasty; alternatively attributed to the Jiuyuan Fang [Formulary of Exploring Cause] by Zhang Song of the Song dynasty)

Wind-Heat or Wind-Dampness Lodging in the Skin (itching, red rashes, patches and spots over the whole body, oozing when scratched)

Formula: Xiaofeng San (Eliminate Wind Powder): schizonepeta, ledebouriella, cicada slough, burdock fruit, atractylodes, sophora root, akebia stem, gypsum, anemarrhena, Chinese angelica root, raw rehmannia root, black sesame seed, and licorice; traditionally used to dispel wind, relieve itching, clear heat and remove dampness (Orthodox Manual of External Medicine, by Chen Shigong, Ming dynasty)

Allergic Constitution, Securing the Exterior and Resisting Allergy (positive allergy tests; urticaria, allergic cough, allergic rhinitis)

Formula: Guomin Jian (Allergy Decoction): ledebouriella, stellaria root (yin chai hu), smoked plum, schisandra fruit, and licorice; traditionally used to secure the exterior and resist allergy (a modern empirical formula created by Zhu Chenyu)

These formulas are for reference under TCM constitution differentiation and should only be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.

Food Therapy & Diet

Dietary Therapy Recipes

Yupingfeng Tea (Astragalus, Atractylodes and Ledebouriella Tea): 10 g astragalus, 10 g atractylodes, and 5 g ledebouriella (roughly 2:2:1); decoct the three herbs and drink as a tea, one dose daily taken in 2–3 divided servings. Traditionally used to boost qi, secure the exterior, and stop sweating; suitable for those with an insecure defensive exterior who catch wind easily and sneeze on exposure to cold.
Smoked Plum and Ledebouriella Decoction: 15 g smoked plum, 10 g bupleurum root, 10 g ledebouriella, and 10 g schisandra fruit, decocted twice to concentrate; take once in the morning and once in the evening, adding 15–20 ml of honey if desired; traditionally used for allergic rhinitis and asthma, with astragalus added as appropriate for lung-spleen deficiency.
Astragalus Tea: 5–10 g raw astragalus, washed clean, boiled or steeped in boiling water for 10–20 minutes before drinking; may be re-steeped repeatedly. Traditionally used to supplement qi and secure the exterior to help support immunity.
Astragalus and Jujube Congee: decoct 15 g astragalus and 10 g codonopsis in water to obtain the liquid, then cook with 30 g jujube and 100 g japonica rice into congee and eat. Traditionally used to boost qi, strengthen the spleen, and secure the exterior and consolidate the defensive qi.
Smoked Plum Soup (Sour Plum Drink): smoked plum, hawthorn, licorice, tangerine peel, and osmanthus flower to taste, with rock sugar; bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat, and drink lukewarm. Sour-astringent and fluid-generating, it astringes the lung and may help resist allergy.

Dietary Principles

To boost qi and secure the exterior and strengthen the spleen and supplement the lung, regularly eat astragalus, atractylodes, jujube, Chinese yam, and reishi mushroom.
Eat moderate amounts of sour-astringent, lung-astringing items such as smoked plum and schisandra fruit to help resist allergy.
Eat a light diet and avoid spicy, stimulating foods and fishy 'trigger' foods (such as seafood, shrimp, crab, beef, mutton, alcohol, and strong tea).
Identify and avoid your own allergens (pollen, dust mites, specific foods, medications, etc.); reduce outings or take protective measures during allergy season.
Keep balanced nutrition, regular routines, and moderate exercise to support healthy qi; avoid raw, cold and cooling items that may impair spleen-stomach yang.

Understanding the Constitution

The special (tebing) constitution, also called the special physiological-deficiency type or allergic constitution, refers to a special constitutional state produced by hereditary and congenital (endowment) factors, including the allergic constitution, hereditary-disease constitution, and fetal-transmission constitution. Its formation is based on abnormal congenital endowment: the strength or weakness of the parents' reproductive essence determines the abundance or scantiness of the offspring's endowment, and the parents' constitutions (e.g., a family history of asthma, urticaria, or hay fever) can be inherited; fetal-transmission factors such as the mother's nutrition, emotions, and illnesses during pregnancy also influence the fetus's constitution. Its onset is mostly related to dysfunction of the lung, spleen and kidney together with weakness of defensive qi: the lung governs the skin and body hair and opens at the nose, so when lung qi is weak the defensive exterior is insecure and the interstices are loose, and external pathogens such as wind, cold, dampness and heat, or abnormal qi (allergens) such as pollen and dust mites, can readily enter through the skin, mouth and nose, producing allergic reactions such as nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, asthma, and itchy skin wheals; the spleen is the source of qi and blood and the foundation of postnatal life, so weak spleen qi impairs transformation and transport and leaves the source of defensive qi insufficient; the kidney is the foundation of prenatal life, so congenital insufficiency of kidney qi means the root is not secure. Overall it is root deficiency with branch excess and healthy qi deficiency with lingering pathogens — the root being lung, spleen and kidney deficiency with insecurity of defensive qi, and the branch being wind pathogens (allergens) attacking through the deficiency; hence it recurs repeatedly and is hard to resolve. Treatment should boost qi and secure the exterior, dispel wind and resist allergy, and regulate the constitution to prevent recurrence.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.