Allergic / special diathesis constitution (Te Bing)
On this page
- Overview
- Recognising the pattern
- Dietary approach
- Foods to favour
- Foods to limit
- Lifestyle
- Related pages
1. Overview
The special diathesis or allergic constitution (Te Bing) is characterised by a heightened, dysregulated immune response: hayfever, asthma, eczema, hives, food intolerances and other allergic conditions. The TCM understanding centres on weak wei qi (defensive qi) and a tendency to wind invasion, often combined with Lung and Spleen qi deficiency.
2. Recognising the pattern
- History of multiple allergies: hayfever, eczema, asthma, hives
- Food sensitivities or intolerances
- Sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose with seasonal triggers
- Frequent skin rashes triggered by food, contact or stress
- Family history of atopic disease
- Sensitive to climate changes and environmental triggers
3. Dietary approach
The diet must strengthen wei qi and Spleen, calm wind, and eliminate known trigger foods. The most common food triggers in TCM — dairy, wheat, peanuts, shellfish, eggs, soy — map closely to the Western allergen list. Anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating foods are central.
4. Foods to favour
- Cooked rice, quinoa, oats, millet (gluten-free grains)
- Cooked vegetables (avoiding nightshades if reactive)
- Lotus seeds, Chinese yam (shan yao), poria (fu ling)
- Astragalus (huang qi) in soup — classical wei-qi tonic
- Goji berries, jujube
- Pear, apple (cooked) for Lung-moistening
- Honey (small amounts, locally produced)
- Bone broth
5. Foods to limit
- Known personal allergens (allergy testing helpful)
- Common atopic triggers: dairy, wheat, peanuts, shellfish
- Food additives, preservatives, colourings
- Excess sugar, refined food
- Cold and raw food (weakens Spleen)
- Fermented and aged foods if histamine-sensitive
6. Lifestyle
Identify and minimise environmental and food triggers. Daily moderate exercise to strengthen wei qi. Manage stress (cortisol modulates atopic disease). Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are particularly effective for allergic constitutions.
