Part 4: The Lung-Large Intestine Dominant Types: When Dairy and Meat Do More Harm Than Good

This question illustrates another critical insight from Eight-Constitution Medicine (ECM):
your constitution determines which foods heal or harm you.

Lung and Large Intestine Dominant Types
In ECM, two constitutional types exhibit naturally strong lung-large
intestine systems:
- Pulmotonia: lungs and large intestine are proportionally strong
- Colonotonia: large intestine and lungs are proportionally strong

While having strong respiratory and gut functions might seem beneficial, these types have naturally weaker liver and gallbladder systems, which can be easily overwhelmed by the wrong diet or lifestyle, creating a harmful 'over-imbalance' we discussed in Part 2.

Common Traits
- Creative, detail-oriented, often perfectionistic
-Sensitive hearing, musical ability or appreciation
-Preference for quiet spaces and thoughtful conversations
-Easily fatigued, especially after sweating or exposure to heat
-May experience digestive discomfort, headaches, or skin issues after consuming meat or dairy

When Pulmotonias and Colonotonias follow common high-protein diets rich in meat and dairy, what others experience as energising can trigger fatigue, inflammation, and immune system overactivity. The body is sending important signals about constitutional needs.

Foods That Can Harm
Examples of foods that further stimulate the already strong lung/large
intestine system:
-All Meat (especially beef)
-Milk and dairy products
-Wheat flour foods
-Soybeans, peanuts, walnuts, and other nuts
-Coffee, alcohol, various medications

Beneficial Foods
Examples of foods that support liver function and calm excessive
lung/large intestine activity:
-All saltwater fish and seafood
-Leafy greens (e.g. lettuce, salad leaves), cabbage, broccoli, cucumber, various green vegetables
-White rice, Buckwheat, mung beans
-Bananas, peaches, cherries, quince, strawberries

Lifestyle Tips
-Avoid high-intensity workouts, sauna, hot baths, or excessive sweating
-Improve fitness levels and energy levels: ocean swimming, cold shower
-Embrace calm routines: meditation, gentle walks, quiet time
-Prioritise regular sleep—it's especially important for these types
-Maintain an upright posture (standing) with a straight back during work or study

Conditions to Watch For
-Allergic asthma, viral and bacterial infection
-Chronic fatigue syndrome, migraines
-Anxiety, nervousness, insomnia
-Autoimmune disorders, rheumatism, lupus
-Atopic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis
-Digestive issues, including ulcers, IBS, gut hypersensitivity

The conventional view that high-protein, meat-centric diets are universally beneficial for strength and energy simply doesn't apply to everyone. For example, the Keto Diet or Carnivore Diet is particularly detrimental to these types.

For lung-large intestine dominant constitutions, a lighter diet rich in seafood and plant foods can function as medicine, while seemingly nutritious meat and dairy may trigger illness.

For more details, please visit the official Eight-Constitution Medicine website here:
Pulmotonia Constitution
Colonotonia Constitution

Disclaimer
The above descriptions reflect general tendencies for the constitutional types and do not represent absolute or fixed characteristics.

Coming Next in This Series
[Part 5] The Pancreas-Stomach Dominant Types: Overactive Digestion,
Sensitive Emotions