Lung Qi Deficiency: An Analysis According to Chinese Medicine
Signs & Symptoms
– Weak cough
– Spontaneous daytime sweating
– Getting sick frequently
– Shortness of Breath
– Dislike of Speaking
– Tired
– Weak Voice
Patho-mechanism of Lung Qi Deficiency: Explanation of Signs & Symptoms
One of the primary symptoms of Lung Qi Deficiency is the presence of a cough. The qi deficient person has a very weak, timid cough. The timidity of the cough reflects the weak and depleted nature of the condition.
It’s in stark contrast to the aggressive, hacking cough that accompanies excess-type conditions.
The lungs are supposed to descend qi, and when this process is interrupted, coughing results.
When we think of the lungs, we immediately think of breathing. This is the primary function of the lungs: to govern respiration. The lungs take air qi from the outside and “descend” it into the body.
If the lungs are weak, they are unable to complete this descending action and the qi “rebels” by moving upwards. This inappropriate movement of the qi creates the cough.
Shortness of breath is also caused by this poor descending of qi and weak respiration.
A hallmark aspect of qi deficiency symptoms is that they are generally worse with exertion.
Qi deficiency also affects the voice. There is an old saying in Chinese Medicine that, “The Lungs govern the voice.” The quality and clarity of one’s voice hinge on the health of the lungs. When the lungs are weak, the voice is also weak and there is a general dislike of speaking.
The next group of symptoms relate to the Lungs and their relationship with the exterior of the body.
The Lungs are said to be the organ closest to the exterior because of its direct relation to the outside air through breathing. For this reason, they also play a big role in protective the body against external pathogens.
The Lungs influence the Defensive Qi (Wei Qi) of the body. It spreads the Defensive Qi all along the surface of the body so that it can warm the body and protect it.
If the Lung Qi is weak, the defensive qi also become weak. As a result, your protection against outside pathogens is inadequate. You begin to catch colds frequently.
The warmth that the defensive qi provided the surface layers of the body is also missing, leading to increased sensitivity to cold weather.
The defensive qi is also important in that it regulates the preservation or excretion of fluids through the skin via sweating. It regulates the opening and closing of the skin pores. So when the Lungs are weak, defensive qi becomes weak, and when that happens, the pores become excessively open.
Due to weakness, the pores become slack, unable to close properly and consequently allowing a loss of fluids through the skin. This is referred to as spontaneous daytime sweating.
Etiology: What Causes Lung Qi Deficiency?
The Lung – Digestion Connection
One of the biggest reasons a person can have weak Lung qi is because their digestive system is also weak.
In Chinese medicine, the digestive system is referred to as the Spleen.
The Spleen and Lungs share a special relationship. The lung meridian begins not at the acupuncture point LU-1, but rather, has its starting point in the middle jiao (Spleen). A weak digestive system predisposes a person to weak lungs. And it is for this reason that immune health ties in strongly with gut health.
The Lungs Resonate with Grief
Every organ resonates with a different emotion.
The Lungs resonate with grief and sadness. Intense and prolonged sadness depletes the Lung qi. This can manifest as shallow breathing, chronic tiredness or breathlessness.
Occupational Hazard: Using your Voice Too Much
There is an old adage in Chinese Medicine that reads, “The Lungs govern the voice.” From an anatomical point of view, this makes a lot of sense. The lung meridian connects with the voice-box in the throat.
Your lungs dictate the quality and clarity of your voice. So if you use your voice and breath excessively over time, this can damage your Lung qi. Professions in which we see this a lot are teachers, singers, and wind-instrument musicians.
Hereditary
If your parents dealt with lung issues growing up this can also predispose you to lung issues as well. It’s not a guarantee obviously. You can think of it as more of a potential that can come into existence under certain circumstances or triggers.
How Can I Strengthen My Lung Qi? The Lung Qi Deficiency Diet
Chinese nutrition outlines a wide array of foods and herbs that can support Lung qi.
General Guidelines: Eat primarily cooked food. Restrict mucus producing foods like dairy
Grains: Barley, Job’s Tears, Oats, Sweet Rice
Vegetables: Carrots, Pumpkin, Winter Squash, Watercress, Yam, Sweet Potatoes
Fruits: Apple, Cherry, Date, Fig, Grape, Mulberry, Peach, Umeboshi plum
Nuts & Seeds: Almonds, Peanuts, Pine Kernel, Walnut
Fish: Herring, Sturgeon
Meat: Goose, Duck
Herbs & Spices: Aniseed, Cinnamon Bark, Licorice, Sage, Thyme
References
Leggett, Daverick. Helping Ourselves: A Guide to Traditional Chinese Food Energetics. Meridian Press, 1994.
Disclaimer
The information in this post is for education purposes only. It is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
