Lung Functions
- Lungs rule qi
- Lungs direct dissemination, descending and purification actions
- Lungs move and adjust water passages
- Lungs connect blood vessels and balance internal body
- Lungs open into the nose and their brilliance is manifested in the body hair. The lungs also connect to the throat.
In western physiology, the lungs are responsible for air exchange. In addition to performing respiration in TCM, the lungs regulate fluid metabolism, blood circulation, the nervous and immune systems.
Lungs rule qi
This involves the lungs’ ruling in respiration and the overall qi activities of the body. The lungs are where qi exchange and regulation occurs. During inhalation, the lungs take in natural air (one type of qi), propelling it downward where it meets other types of qi. The different types of qi combine to form the useful qi for the body. During exhalation, the lungs expel the "impure" qi not useful to the body. Since qi is essential for all physiological functions in the body, the lungs' ruling in qi is an important function. If there is lung disharmony, the body can result in many health problems. Generally speaking, the rhythmic respiratory movements in the lungs play an important regulatory role for the qi movements of the body. The lungs regulate the qi activities of organs and meridians, especially for pectoral qi. Pectoral qi is formed by combining fresh air inhaled by the lungs and nutrient essence derived from the spleen and stomach. Since pectoral qi concentrates in the chest, it promotes the heart and lung functioning. By flowing through the respiratory tract, pectoral qi supports the breathing functions. Its ability to flow through the blood vessels and the heart is important in regulating the heartbeat and supporting the circulation of other types of qi and blood.
When the lungs’ ruling is efficient, the airways are free of blockage, then respiratory movements will be in harmony, and the formation and activities of qi are in order. In case if the lungs’ ruling becomes powerless, respiratory movements will be weakened, the pectoral qi is affected in particularly, leading to qi deficient signs such as breath shortness, inability to cough, feeble voice, fatigue and general weakness. In some cases, a stagnated qi state occurs that caused signs like chest stuffiness and abdominal distention. Furthermore, lung disharmony can also affect the dissemination of protective qi to body surface, individuals will develop excess sweating, aversion to wind blowing, and frequent cold or flu.
Lungs direct dissemination, descending and purification actions
The lungs disseminate substances in an ascending and outward direction. For example, impure qi is expelled in this manner; nutrient essence transformed from the spleen is directed by the lungs throughout body and reach the skin and hair; the dissemination of protective qi to warm and nourish the skin and muscles, and to regulate the opening and close of striae; transformation of useless body fluids into sweat and expelling out of the body. The lungs also demonstrate descending and purifying properties. They take in fresh air during inspiration, and keep the breathing deep and even; descend substances like qi, body fluids, and blood downward to the organs for their functional needs; regulate the water passages and send useless fluids down to the kidneys and bladder. Their purifying action is necessary to maintain a normal respiratory tract, which keep the lungs and airways smooth and free of obstacles.
The disseminating, descending and purifying actions should work in a coordinated manner, and always maintain a harmonious balance. This is essential for good health, as disharmony in the actions may cause individuals suffering from respiratory or other health problems. During consultations, it is a routine for physicians to identify whether it is a disorder of disseminating action or a disorder of descending action.
When the lungs’ disseminating action is abnormal, individuals tend to develop breathing problem or protective qi stagnation. The former mainly shows airway problems with symptoms like nasal congestion, sneezing, breathing difficulty, chest stuffiness and coughing. The later shows problem in protective qi dissemination with symptoms like no sweating, chills and fever.
When the lungs’ descending and purifying actions are abnormal, individuals tend to develop counter-flow of lung qi or phlegm obstruction in lungs. The former will lead to chest stuffiness, persistent coughing or asthma; the later will lead to excessive throat secretions, wheezing (a coarse, whistling sound produced during breathing,) thick and greasy tongue coating.
Lungs move and adjust water passages
The lungs are responsible for the movement, distribution and excretion of body fluids. The lungs are regarded as the upper source of water in TCM. Through disseminating and descending actions, the lungs distribute body fluids throughout the body for moistening purpose, and send fluids down to the kidneys and bladder for urination. And they also enable the useless fluids excrete through the skin pores, the process of normal sweating. If the lungs fail to regulate the water passages, scanty urine and general swelling will result.Lungs connect blood vessels and balance internal body
As mentioned, qi movements are necessary for blood circulation to occur, and so the lungs play an important role in promoting blood circulation. The lungs collect blood from all blood vessels, after qi exchange during respiration, refreshed blood enters the circulation and flows throughout the body. If lung dysfunction last for a long period of time that affects the heart’s ruling in blood, there will be blood circulation problem, and even develop blood stasis signs like purplish-blue color in the lips and face. Since the lungs’ involve actively in the metabolism of qi, blood and body fluids, they are the key for internal balance, therefore, TCM claims that the lungs possess certain administration and regulation on the overall physiological functions of the body.
Lungs open into the nose and their brilliance is manifested in the body hair. The lungs also connect to the throat
The skin and body hair reflect the condition of lungs. Together with the sweat glands, they are often referred to as the "exterior" of the body and the first line of body resistance in TCM. The lungs are the interior organs that rule this exterior. By disseminating protective qi to these structures, the lungs provide warmth and nourishment to them, and also control the sweating process and protect the body. If these particular lung functions are weakened, many health problems will result. For example, exogenous evils can easily enter the body through the body surface, and then attack the lungs, resulting in symptoms like chills, fever, nasal congestion and coughing. When the lungs fail to disseminate the protective qi, essence and body fluids to the body surface, the skin will look pale and also with a sallow face and withered hair. Too much sweating and a low resistance indicate weakness in protective qi too. In serious cases, the skin pores close and become no sweating at all. The nose is considered the opening of the lungs and the exit for qi in the body. Healthy lungs keep the nasal passage free of blockage, breathing in harmony, and a good smelling sense. When the lungs are attacked by pathogens, the nose will be affected and thus cause symptoms like nasal congestion, running nose, loss of smell and even bleeding. It is a routine in TCM that nasal disorders usually start with lung treatment. Individuals manifest high fever, thirst and coughing with yellow phlegm usually indicated a lung disharmony, that attacked by warm or heat pathogens.
The throat and vocal cords are also connected to the lungs. The lung meridian branch out to reach the throat, and control its functions. When qi movements in the lungs are harmony, the throat can open and close freely, and the voice will be loud and powerful. Sometimes lung deficiency produces a coarse or low voice. A loud voice and course breathing may indicate a disharmony of lung qi stagnation, and may accompany hoarseness or loss of voice too.
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