From 'one disease, one model' to 'one body, many diseases': TCM leads a new paradigm

Multimorbidity—when several chronic diseases occur at the same time—has become a growing barrier to effective healthcare. This study highlights how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitution theory provides a body-centered perspective to explain why multiple diseases cluster within the same individual and how they may be jointly prevented. By identifying constitution types and the “internal soil” that underlies shared disease mechanisms, the research shows that early warnings, targeted regulation, and constitution-based interventions may help reduce risk before multimorbidity develops. The findings suggest that adjusting the underlying body type, rather than treating diseases in isolation, offers a promising unified pathway for managing complex chronic illness.

As population aging accelerates and chronic illnesses accumulate, multimorbidity is placing substantial pressure on global health systems. Yet most clinical models continue to target single diseases, leaving gaps in addressing overlapping symptoms, drug interactions, and rising care demands. Current medical guidelines rarely reflect the interconnected mechanisms linking multiple conditions in one patient. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a distinct lens by proposing that individual constitution—such as phlegm-dampness, qi stagnation, or yin deficiency—shapes susceptibility to specific disease clusters. These body types influence whether metabolic, cardiovascular, allergic, or inflammatory disorders arise together. Due to these challenges, deeper research on constitution-driven multimorbidity patterns has become necessary.

A new study from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, published (DOI: 10. 3969 / j. issn. 1006-2157. 2025. 11. 000) in 2025 in the Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, presents a unified framework for understanding multimorbidity through the lens of TCM constitution theory. The analysis reviews how constitution types predict disease clustering, how early identification can signal risk, and how constitution-based interventions may prevent multiple conditions simultaneously. The study also integrates emerging molecular evidence supporting “same prevention and same treatment” strategies for different diseases rooted in the same body-type foundation.

The study shows that constitution types function as the internal “soil” for disease accumulation. For example, phlegm-dampness constitution is strongly associated with metabolic disorders such as obesity, dyslipidemia, and diabetes, while other types predispose individuals to cardiovascular disease, thyroid abnormalities, allergy-related conditions, or mood disorders. This framework helps explain why multimorbidity follows recognizable combination patterns rather than random coexistence.

Validated constitution-identification tools—used nationwide—enable early detection of high-risk body types. Clinical studies demonstrate that correcting constitution imbalance can improve blood lipid profiles, glucose levels, inflammatory markers, and even gut microbiota composition before multimorbidity fully develops. Multi-omics analyses reveal distinct methylation sites, microbial signatures such as Flavonifractor plautii, and characteristic metabolites linked to constitution-specific vulnerabilities.

Experimental and clinical evidence shows that constitution-regulating formulas can simultaneously improve multiple metabolic, inflammatory, or respiratory indicators, offering biological support for unified treatment across various diseases sharing the same body-type foundation. Together, these findings position constitution as a measurable and adjustable platform for early prevention and integrated management of multimorbidity.

The study’s authors emphasize that effectively managing “one body, many diseases” requires shifting from a disease-centered to a body-centered strategy. They argue that constitution-based approaches offer earlier prediction and more coordinated interventions than traditional symptom-driven models. By aligning TCM constitution theory with modern molecular evidence, they suggest that constitution can serve as a practical bridge connecting holistic medicine with precision healthcare, helping reduce treatment burdens and offering new leverage points for managing complex chronic conditions.

Constitution-focused screening and interventions may help reduce polypharmacy, improve patient quality of life, and identify shared therapeutic targets across disease clusters. As digital health technology advances, integrating constitution scoring with big-data analytics could enable personalized risk models and intelligent early-warning systems. The authors conclude that combining TCM constitution theory with contemporary biomedical research may support the development of coordinated Chinese–Western multimorbidity guidelines and promote a more holistic and efficient framework for managing complex chronic illness.

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References

DOI

10.3969/j.issn.1006-2157.2025.11.000

Funding Information

Strategic Research and Consulting Project of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (2024-XZ-65).

About Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ISSN 1006-2157), founded in 1959, is a monthly academic journal sponsored by Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and published in Beijing. As a leading Chinese-language journal in traditional Chinese medicine and pharmacy, it features enhanced online-first publishing and is consistently indexed in all important Chinese databases and international databases, including CSSCI, CAS (Chemical Abstracts, 2025), J-STAGE (2025), CSCD (2025–2026), and the World Journal Impact Index Report (2024). It has also been selected in every edition of Peking University’s Core Journals Catalogue from 1992 to 2023. The journal has earned multiple distinctions, including recognition as a “Double-Effects” outstanding journal in China, and serves as an important platform for disseminating advances in medical and health sciences within TCM.