In Classification and Determination of Constitution in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the China Association of Chinese Medicine classifies constitutions of the human body into nine types, including yin-yang harmony constitution, yang deficiency constitution, yin deficiency constitution, qi deficiency constitution, phlegm-dampness constitution, damp-heat constitution, qi depression constitution, blood stasis constitution, and allergic constitution, most of which belong to sub-healthy states.
The yin deficiency constitution means that, when internal organs are dysfunctional, the syndromes of yin-fluid deficiency in the body and production of endogenous heat due to yin deficiency will easily occur, which are usually represented by emaciation of the body, tidal reddening of two cheeks, feverishness in palms and soles, tidal fever and night sweating, upset irritability, xerostomia, hair and skin dryness, and dry and red tongue with little or even no coating, which are mainly caused by invasion of pathogenic dryness-heat, overeating of febrile and dry food, excessive grief and sorrow, intemperance in sexual life and long illness. The tendency of morbidity is: being susceptible to consumptive disease, seminal emission, insomnia, etc., being resistant to winter but nonresistant to summer, and being nonresistant to summer, heat, and pathogenic dryness.
Such sub-healthy constitution as yin deficiency constitution belongs to chronic diseases and has a relatively long disease course, and requires a long-term medication and gradual conditioning, in order to achieve the effects of tonifying qi (vital energy) and nourishing qi. The drug forms commonly used in the traditional Chinese medicine are decoctions and Chinese patent medicine such as pills and the like. Decoctions usually have relatively good efficacy, but the administration thereof is complicated, and the taste thereof is poor. If the decoctions need to be prepared for a long time, it is difficult for a patient to keep taking the decoctions. Moreover, the efficacy of the pills is relatively poor.
It is mentioned in the Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor that “the superior physician prevents illness, the mediocre physician attends to impending illness, and the inferior physician treats actual illness”, wherein the phrase “prevent illness” means taking corresponding measures to prevent the occurrence and development of diseases. The body constitution determines the health of people and susceptibility to diseases. It is believed in the traditional Chinese medicine that since the human beings live in the natural world, physiological functions of the human body usually change with seasons, that is, “correspondence between man and nature”. Winter is the season when the human body “stores energies”, thus appropriate nourishment can enhance the constitution, ward off diseases and strengthen the body, and prolong life, that is, conditioning in winter or nourishing in winter commonly mentioned in the traditional Chinese medicine. For the sub-healthy population with yin deficiency constitution, a solid oral paste with a higher drug concentration and good taste, and being convenient to carry more meets requirements of modern people.
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