There are many different methods of typing human beings, from ‘male or female’ to your star sign, even to even DNA testing. By knowing that you are male or female you can draw upon other people’s learning, as a short cut to learn your strengths and weaknesses, and know how best to use them.

The sorts of typing I am referring to are, Metabolic (what proportions of carbs and protein you should eat), blood typing, Ayurvedic typing (Ancient Indian method of grouping people according to physical and mental characteristics), DNA to help nutrition and Chinese medicine characteristics.

We should all be learning to be our own doctor practicing a preventative approach to health so that we don’t become ill in the first place. ‘It’s all about you’ which is usually peoples favourite subject combined with your health, you most valuable asset, what can be more interesting?

We are all unique and there are many ways to help us understand ourselves, the more we learn the better. You can use some of these or none of these depending on what you feel. Work out how best to look after yourself, as the better we can look after ourselves the better equipped we are to help others.

A simple test to do online is your metabolic type and there are many simple tests online that are worth doing. Basically, if you are a protein type (often with a fast metabolism) you could eat relatively more protein (meat, dairy, eggs, soya) to keep long lasting energy. If you are a carbohydrate type you are suited to eating more grains (like pasta and rice) and less protein, and if this type does eat too much protein their health may deteriorate.

There are many different ways of typing the human body and the Chinese way is different to the Western Medicine, which is different to Ayurvedic. Western medicine ploughs millions of pounds into drugs and surgery that tend to treat the problem and not the cause of the problem. The eastern medical approaches employ natural remedies and tend to try to get the body to rebalance in a more subtle way (though Ayurveda can include surgery). Both obviously work and are more appropriate at different times.

When a Chinese Doctor looks at a person they can use the 5 elements to determine what type of person their patient is. Are they a fire (heart), earth (spleen/digestion), wood (liver), kidney (water) or lung (metal) type of person? Each of these has a corresponding emotion, organ and colour. The other Chinese approach is with the 8 principles (involving yin and yang), which let the doctor know what the specific problem of the patient is rather than typing the person.

If visit a Doctor of Chinese medicine then you can reassure yourself by making sure they are registered with the BAC (British Acupuncture Council) or the RCHM (Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine). Herbs and Acupuncture can be used together or separately in Chinese medicine.

Ayurvedic medicine also uses the five elements to aid the understanding of our constitution and metabolism. It is prevalent in India and is said to have originated from ancient Hindu sacred texts later influenced by Buddhist ideas. ‘Ayus’ means life and ‘Vedas’ means knowledge. Deepak Chopra writes "A balanced mind/body system allows energy to flow easily from nature. Therefore the key to eliminating chronic fatigue and having abundant energy is balance." Ayurveda recognises that bodily health is best maintained by keeping the body in tune with its own elemental nature. Patients are classified with the help of three ‘doshas’ known as wind (vata), bile (pitta) and phlegm (kapha), which are formed within the five elements (air, fire, water, ether, earth). Depending on an individual’s balance of the doshas, they will have greater disposition towards certain diseases, so the typing of patients by an Arurvedic doctor is key. If any lifestyle or mental factors cause the doshas to become out of balance, illness will occur.

The similarities with Chinese medicine continue, as examination of the tongue is important as well as visual observation, colour and smell of the patient. Treatments include herbal medicines combined with massage and manipulation, cleansing techniques, dietary and lifestyle advice and yoga exercises. Ayurvedic Practitioners in the UK have no central governing body but there are many good ones if you search.

Here are some typical characteristics of the 3 Doshas in Ayurveda. You may be just one type , or a combination.

Vata, (wind) tend to be dry skinned, thin build, inventive/creative, do not tolerate cold weather well, mobile by nature.