The Lung in Chinese medicine

The Lung (Fei, 肺) is the “Canopy” of the organs in Chinese medicine. Sitting at the top of the body, it receives Heaven Qi through breath and combines it with Spleen-derived Grain Qi to form the body’s usable Qi. Crucially, the Lung produces and circulates Wei Qi (defensive energy) at the surface, protecting against external pathogenic factors. Paired with the Large Intestine; element Metal; season Autumn; sense organ the nose; emotion grief and sadness; tissue skin and body hair; houses the Po (Corporeal Soul).

Functions of the Lung

1. Governs Qi and respiration — receives Heaven Qi through breath; combines it with Spleen-derived Grain Qi to form Zong Qi (Gathering Qi) in the chest
2. Controls dispersing and descending — the Lung disperses Wei Qi and Body Fluids to the skin, and descends Qi and fluids downward to the Kidney
3. Regulates the Water passages — the “upper source of Water”, the Lung initiates the descent of fluids through the body
4. Controls skin and body hair — skin texture, pore opening and closing, and overall skin tone reflect Lung function
5. Opens into the nose — nasal breathing, sense of smell and voice quality depend on Lung function
6. Houses the Po (Corporeal Soul) — the “animal” or instinctive aspect of consciousness

Lung and Large Intestine pair

The Lung is paired with the Large Intestine. Constipation often reflects failure of Lung Qi to descend; equally, a strong cough can disturb the Large Intestine. Lung Heat and Large Intestine Heat patterns frequently overlap in respiratory and bowel symptoms occurring together.

Common patterns of Lung disharmony

1. Lung Qi deficiency — weak voice, easily catches colds, shortness of breath on mild exertion, spontaneous sweating, susceptibility to hay fever and allergies
2. Lung Yin deficiency — dry cough, dry throat, hoarse voice, night sweats, low-grade afternoon fever, scanty sputum
3. Wind-Cold invading the Lung — acute cold with chills, sneezing, clear nasal discharge, headache, body ache
4. Wind-Heat invading the Lung — acute cold with sore throat, fever, thick yellow nasal discharge, thirst
5. Phlegm-Damp obstructing the Lung — chronic productive cough with copious white sputum, chest fullness, fatigue
6. Phlegm-Heat obstructing the Lung — cough with thick yellow sputum, fever, wheeze; common pattern in chronic sinusitis and acute respiratory infection
7. Lung Heat — high fever, cough, asthma flare, restlessness, thirst
8. Lung Dryness — dry cough with scant sputum, dry skin, dry nose; common in autumn or with central heating

Conditions on this site relating to Lung disharmony

Asthma, sinusitis, perennial allergies, hay fever, recurrent colds, chronic cough, eczema, long COVID, anosmia, grief reactions and post-viral fatigue.

Treatment principles for the Lung

Core acupuncture points include LU 7 (Lieque) (Luo-connecting; releases the Exterior), LU 9 (Taiyuan) (Yuan-source; tonifies Lung Qi and Yin), LU 5 (Chize) (clears Lung Heat), BL 13 (Feishu) as the Back-Shu, and LU 1 (Zhongfu) as the Front-Mu. Formulas include Yu Ping Feng San (Lung Qi deficiency, allergy prevention), Sang Ju Yin (Wind-Heat early stage), Ma Huang Tang (Wind-Cold), and Sha Shen Mai Men Dong Tang (Lung Yin deficiency).

Return to Zang-Fu organ overview or read about the Heart, Spleen, Liver and Kidney.