How TCM Understands Lung Health
In TCM, the lungs are considered one of the most delicate and easily affected organs. Unlike modern Western medicine, which focuses heavily on anatomy and pathology, TCM takes a more holistic view—seeing the lungs as a respiratory organ and a critical regulator of the body’s energy and defenses.
TCM recognizes five major organ systems—heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys—each of which plays a unique role in maintaining health. Among these, the lungs are considered especially sensitive to environmental changes. TCM identifies six external factors—wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire—as potential causes of disease. Because the lungs are directly connected to the outside world through the nose and skin, they are usually the first to be affected when these harmful elements enter the body.
One of the core principles in TCM is that “the lungs govern qi and respiration.” Qi refers to the body’s vital energy—the life force that flows through invisible channels called meridians and powers all physiological processes. The lungs are responsible for drawing in clean air (or “heavenly qi”) and helping distribute this energy throughout the body.
When the lungs are functioning well, qi flows smoothly, breathing is easy, and the immune system is strong. When the lungs are weak or under attack, qi becomes disrupted, leading to fatigue, shortness of breath, coughing, or greater susceptibility to illness.
Because of this central role, TCM strongly emphasizes protecting and nourishing the lungs, especially through food, herbs, and lifestyle practices that help restore balance. Beyond easing respiratory symptoms, supporting the lungs is about strengthening the body’s entire energy system and resilience.
Common Threats to Lung Health
From a Western and TCM standpoint, the lungs are among the most vulnerable organs in the body. In modern medicine, lung conditions are often caused by infections like colds, flu, pneumonia, smoking, pollution, and inhaling harmful substances such as dust or chemicals. These factors trigger inflammation, leading to symptoms like fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing, which, in severe cases, can become life-threatening.
TCM agrees that the lungs are highly sensitive, but offers a broader interpretation of why they are so easily affected. In TCM, the lungs are known as the body’s “tender organ” because they are the most exposed to the external environment. They are responsible for managing respiration and defense, drawing in fresh air and helping to circulate qi, the body’s vital energy, while forming the first barrier against invading pathogens.
TCM emphasizes that environmental influences—such as cold air, dryness, or wind—can disturb the lungs’ balance and allow what it calls “external pathogenic factors” to enter the body. This can result in an energetic imbalance that manifests as coughing, congestion, or general fatigue.
An old Chinese proverb states, “Doctors fear treating coughs as much as builders fear finding leaks.” Just as a hidden water leak can be tricky and time-consuming to fix, coughs in TCM often reflect deeper imbalances and require a tailored, step-by-step approach to healing.
Unlike a one-size-fits-all method, TCM looks at the patient’s constitution—their overall physical and energetic makeup—as well as the stage and nature of the illness. For example, a cough caused by dryness will be treated differently from one caused by cold or heat. A personalized method helps address both the symptom and its root cause.
