Readers sometimes ask in the comments where I practise. I am grateful, and a little proud, but I am a basic-science faculty member responsible only for teaching and research, so I do not see patients now. Still, I remember clearly how I diagnosed constitution when I was in clinic — and it surprises people. For the first several visits, I did not tell patients their constitution at all.
In Summary
- In clinic, I took the constitutional pulse, gave constitutional acupuncture, and sent patients home — without telling them their constitution or which foods to avoid.
- Constitutional diagnosis means finding something invisible, so I wanted it as accurate as possible and did not want to plant preconceptions.
- Many patients arrived having already decided their constitution for themselves.
- I explained the constitution and its characteristics only after 3–5 visits, or 2–4 weeks in less clear cases.
- Every ECM practitioner works differently, but all confirm constitution through the constitutional pulse and the constitutional diet. Find a practitioner whose style suits you.
Pulse, Acupuncture — and “See You Tomorrow”
In the previous post I explained that diagnosing constitution takes time and effort. Here is what that looked like in my own practice.
After taking the constitutional pulse and giving constitutional acupuncture, I did two unusual things:
- I did not tell the patient which foods to be careful with.
- I did not tell the patient their constitution.
I simply said, “See you tomorrow,” and sent them home.
Why I Did It That Way
Diagnosing constitution means finding something you cannot see, so I wanted it to be as accurate as possible. I did not want to give patients preconceptions about their constitution — and many patients came in having already talked themselves into a particular constitution. A name, once given, tends to shape what people notice and report, which makes the next pulse reading and the next response harder to interpret cleanly.
So I explained the constitution’s name and characteristics only after 3–5 visits in straightforward cases, or after 2–4 weeks when it needed longer observation.
Looking back, my patients may well have been driven half mad with frustration. I think they only just managed to wait because they could see their health improving in the meantime. If I opened a clinic again, I do not think I would do it quite that way.
What This Means for You as a Patient
Every ECM practitioner has a different way of working. Some will tell you a provisional constitution at the first visit; others, as I did, will hold back until they are more certain. What they share is that the constitution is confirmed through the constitutional pulse and the constitutional diet — through how your body actually responds over time.
Two practical points follow. First, a constitution given at the first visit is best treated as a working hypothesis. Second, try not to arrive with your mind made up from an online quiz; let the pulse and your responses speak.
Summary
In my clinical years, I deliberately withheld the constitution and the food list for the first few visits, so that preconceptions would not cloud an invisible diagnosis — confirming it only after 3–5 visits or 2–4 weeks. Practitioners differ in style, but all rely on the pulse and the body’s response over time. Find one whose way of working suits you.
Related reading: Part 2: How ECM Diagnosis Works · My First Constitutional Acupuncture
