In recent years, multiple global studies have consistently affirmed that early implementation and management is critical in reducing the risk of illness. Food and medicine homology (FMH) products are dual-functional substances that play both therapeutic and dietary roles. Integrating FMH products into daily life will become a critical strategy for the prevention of disease and the accomplishment of "the Healthy China Initiative". However, at present, the development and current application of FMH products rely primarily on Western medical and nutritional frameworks, which fail to highlight the "preventive treatment of disease" and limit the precision and diversity of product positioning.
A team of traditional Chinese medicine scientists led by Ling-Ru Li from National Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution and Preventive Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine in Beijing, China recently put forward that the fundamental traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitution theory serves as a crucial basis for the development and application of FMH products. aiming to promote the development and application of FMH products.
The team published their article in Food & Medicine Homology on July 23, 2025. "In this article, we present a viewpoint on the development and application of FMH products to advance research in the field. FMH products, with their unique TCM characteristics, should be applied under the guidance of the TCM theory. The TCM constitution theory is a vital basis for the development and application of FMH products,"said Ling-Ru Li, senior author of the paper, professor in the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. Dr Li also serves as a Standing Committee Member and Deputy Secretary-General of Constitution Committee of the Chinese Society of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Constitution refers to the relatively stable characteristics that an individual exhibits in terms of morphological structure, physiological functions, and psychological states throughout their entire life cycle. The TCM constitution theory takes the characteristics of various constitutions into account and describes the physiological and pathological characteristics of different human constitutions. There are nine different types of body constitutions in the TCM constitution theory: "Balanced constitution", "Qi-Deficiency constitution", "Yang-Deficiency constitution", "Yin-Deficiency constitution", "Phlegm-Dampness constitution", "Dampness-Heat constitution", "Blood-Stasis constitution", "Qi-Stagnation constitution", and "Inherited-Special constitution." Moreover, the TCM constitution theory argues that body constitution is not only relatively stable but also dynamically variable. The constitution of the body is influenced by various internal and external factors, such as heredity, the environment, an individual's mental state, nutrition and exercise.
The research team point out that body constitution types are associated with specific disease susceptibilities and regulating body constitution can prevent disease. Ling-Ru Li said,"According to observations of clinical cases, our research team discovered that there is a correlation between constitution and disease.Whether the constitution is balanced is a key endogenous factor in disease occurrence. Individuals with unbalanced constitutions are more prone to developing particular diseases. In conclusion, modulating the body constitution by eating personalized FMH products serves as a cornerstone for disease prevention. Developing and applying FMH products under the guidance of the TCM constitution theory can regulate unbalanced constitutions to achieve disease prevention and treatment."
Li's research team raised some recommendations to facilitate the rational development and application of FMH products on the basis of the TCM constitution theory.
The government could launch educational initiatives and media campaigns related to the theory of TCM constitutions to help individuals gain a deeper understanding of constitutional characteristics and FMH products.
Enterprises could commercialize many effective scientific research achievements to facilitate the development and application of new FMH products,which may yield enormous dividends.
Healthcare professionals could recommend FMH products tailored to individual constitutions and provide a wide variety of medicinal diets for the public.
These approaches encourage individuals to appropriately use FMH products and proactively manage their well-being under the guidance of the TCM constitution theory, thereby reducing the societal burden of disease.
Other contributors include Yan-Fei Zheng, Ya-Xin Cao, Xue-Ying Zhao and Jing Guo from National Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution and Preventive Medicine at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine in Beijing,China; and Wen-Long Sun and Jing-Han Jia from School of Life Sciences and Medicine at Shandong University of Technology in Zibo , China.
About the Authors
Dr. Ling-Ru Li is a full professor in National Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution and Preventive Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, China. Her research interests focus on basic research in constitution regulation for the prevention and treatment of metabolic chronic diseases, as well as the development of health and wellness products. Until now, she has published 190 papers, including 51 papers indexed by SCI. She presided over 20 national/provincial scientific research projects, owns 2 national invention patents.
