On April 1, 2026, China implemented a landmark national standard: Classification and Determination of TCM Constitution. Although designated as a recommended rather than mandatory standard, it represents a major step in modernizing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by converting traditional constitution theory into a clear, measurable and clinically practical framework. By clarifying the relationship between constitution, disease, and pattern differentiation, the standard strengthens professional credibility, supports research, and enhances patient-centered treatment.
Clayton Shiu, PhD, MSTOM
Dr. Clayton Shiu earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Physiology from Boston University and a Master of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. He received his PhD in Acupuncture and Moxibustion from the Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and completed his residency at the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin, a highly regarded teaching facility and the largest stroke rehabilitation acupuncture and moxibustion center in China. He founded The Shiu Clinic in 2019 in New York City, where he currently practices TCM and nanopuncture. He holds faculty positions at the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences and the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, teaching stroke rehabilitation courses for their doctoral programs.