Health Viewpoints

The Function of the Lungs: Insights From Traditional Chinese Medicine and Modern Science

Modern science is bridging the gap between traditional medicine and contemporary understanding.
The Function of the Lungs: Insights From Traditional Chinese Medicine and Modern Science
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Jingduan Yang
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Health Viewpoints

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) emphasizes lung care in autumn, while Western medicine focuses on preventing respiratory illnesses during this season. Despite being distinct medical systems, both agree that the lungs play a critical role in maintaining health. Our lungs are not just for breathing; they also regulate essential functions such as fluid balance, blood circulation, and brain and emotional health.

Jingduan Yang
Jingduan Yang
M.D.
Dr. Jingduan Yang is a board-certified psychiatrist and fifth-generation classical Chinese medicine physician whose work bridges Western psychiatry, functional medicine, and ancient healing traditions. He is the creator of the ACES Model of Health and Medicine—a four-dimensional framework spanning anatomy, chemistry, energy, and spirit—and the author of “Facing East” and “Clinical Acupuncture and Ancient Chinese Medicine.” As a principal founder of the Northern School of Medicine and Health Sciences, he advances whole-person care grounded in science, ethics, and humanity.