Korean Acupuncture and Metal Body Type

By Che Bong Cho, LAc

Chinese Acupuncture & Herb Center, Inc.

. http://www.myfairfaxacupuncture.com/

More Complementary & Integrative Healthcare Articles

Korean Acupuncture and Metal Body Type

Korean acupuncture is a broad categorization of acupuncture that includes some unique techniques and applications, as well as techniques and theories from traditional Chinese medicine. In general, Korean acupuncture places more of an emphasis on your body type or constitution when developing treatments. These eight constitutions are pulmotonia (metal major), hepatonia (wood major), colonotonia (metal minor), cholecystonia (wood minor), pancreotonia (fire major), renotonia (water major), gastrotonia (fire minor), and vesicotonia (water minor). The theory is that one should know one’s own unique constitutional physiology, as well as general physiology, in order to lead a healthy life.

This article will focus on metal yang body type. It is believed that people who have metal yang body type generally have externally broader shoulders, more developed chests, and more beautiful skin than other body types. They possess ingenuity, creative talent, progressive action, and faster thinking or decision-making skills. Also, they enjoy music and like to sing. Singing makes them happy.

On the other hand, they are also believed to be impractical, unsociable, and introspective. Even though they have soft facial features and quiet manners, they can be fierce when they lose their temper. They may have liver qi deficiency, which means there are certain foods that their bodies cannot process well, such as meat.

When they do eat meat (beef, chicken, pork, etc.), it is believed that the liver qi deficiency leads to poor digestion. This can, in turn, lead to displeasure, which may manifest as rude behavior and anger issues.

Food containing MSG may cause people with metal body type to develop skin irritations. In addition, they may be prone to skin problems in general. People with metal body types are also thought to not like standing or walking for long periods. Korean acupuncture theory believes that people with this body type should eat more vegetables and seafood to protect their liver qi.

Acupuncture and oriental medicine may be able to help certain health issues in people with metal body type.