According to East Asian medicine, the season of autumn is correlated with the element of Metal [金; jīn] and co-resonates with all things that exhibit healthy boundaries: the clarity between what we are willing to value and what we are willing to release.

In the body, specific tissues and energetic processes exhibit Metal element the embodiment of healthy boundaries.  These include: the Lungs* or fèi [肺], the breath, a healthy relationship with time including moving in rhythms of life and acting with poignancy, the capacity to feel the preciousness of life as well as the grief that comes with loss, a strong authentic voice, radiant skin, appropriate sweating, and the quality of authority in one’s presence.    

(*Note that specific words are purposefully capitalized here to denote the ancient pictographic characters and the word-fields of meaning they convey. Capitalized ‘Lung’ denotes the Chinese medicine understanding of the organ plus its related acupuncture channels plus its mental, emotional, spiritual and physiologic expressions. The uncapitalized ‘lung’ signifies the English language word and western medicine understanding of the organ itself.)

The Lungs in East Asian medicine are not quite the same as the lungs as perceived by western conventional medicine. The body, from the perspective of this holistic medicine, expresses a coherence and a wholeness of intelligence that linear thinking sometimes can’t comprehend. Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual intelligences are expressed together, without separation.  In this system of medicine, the Lungs are central to the distribution of qi throughout the body. They are responsible for the transmutation of breath into vital energy and so, they represent an important place where the life force begins and ends.

Below, I’ll share about the energetics of this organ system. My hope is to help you transform the way you think about your body so you can better understand its inner relationships and tend to yourself in a more expansive way.

 

The Pathway of the Lung Meridian

Acupuncture channels or meridians are intelligent extensions of our internal organs.  The channels are connective tissue pathways.  A pathway is both an emptiness and a thoroughfare, allowing communication with the rest of the body.  When a channel begin to show signs of imbalances (tightness, pain, constrictions, etc.), it is showing us how we might better support the associated internal organ before a more serious and deeper pathology manifests. 

The Lung meridian follows a specific route through the body: it begins in the lungs, rises to the surface at the upper outer chest, and travels along the inside of the arm, ending at the thumb. Pain or constrictions along this channel might indicate issues in the Lungs.

 

The Lungs are the ‘Master of the Skin’

The Lung Organ Network is intricately connected to the skin. To better understand the energetics here, consider that our skin acts more like a frog’s skin than you might assume: the pores of our skin are in constant contact with our surrounding atmosphere, opening and closing to help regulate sweating, humidity, and body temperature.  Our skin breathes and even gives off CO2.   When the Lungs are in balance, the skin appears healthy, hydrated, and radiant. However, imbalances in Lung Qi can manifest as skin issues, such as dryness, rashes, or excessive sweating. For example, we often see issues like asthma and eczema co-arising. Other times the skin or surface layer can be ‘stuck’ or not open and close easily and cause temperature dysregulation, muscle pain that feels like you’re about to get sick (flu-like myalgias), or a constant sense of constriction or tightness at the back of the neck.

 

The Lungs’ Role in Immunity and Wei Qi

Wei Qi [卫气], or defensive Qi, is akin to the immune system in Chinese medicine and describes the protective energy that circulates at the skin's surface, guarding against external pathogens. The Lungs are responsible for governing Wei Qi and ensuring its strength.

When the body’s immune system or Wei Qi is strong, it has enough vital energy to protect the entire body with abundance: circulating protective energy to the inner body, vital organs, and the periphery (warm fingers, toes, nose).  A robust person gives off body heat and has Wei Qi that extends even beyond their body surface. This robust energy helps protect the body from respiratory infections and environmental influences.  When the immune system is weakened, however, the Wei Qi does not have enough resource to protect the entire body and it may have to prioritize which areas it can protect. Walking around with constantly cold fingers, cold toes, and a cold body temperature means that the immune system has a limited circulatory capacity to defend against pathogens. 

One way to help boost your immunity and work with your Wei Qi is to keep your body warmth protected, especially during the windy fall and winter months.  Notice your body’s response to cold air and drafts.  Keep yourself warm and protected from cold and wind, especially the back of the neck where excess yang energy escapes.  This will preserve your body’s resources so it can also protect your immunity.

 

The Lungs as the ‘Sensitive Organ’

The Lungs are often referred to as the ‘sensitive organ’ because they serve as a bridge between the inner and outer world: each inhale and exhale connects our physical body to the atmosphere around us. The Lungs are seen as a conduit for the exchange of qi (vital energy) between the external environment and our internal organs, making them sensitive to changes in the atmosphere, humidity, temperature, wind, and our emotional state.

People with strong Lung Qi can adapt to changes in the external environment with ease, while those with weakness in the Lungs may find they are more susceptible to respiratory ailments or emotional disturbances during weather changes.

Breathing Happens Mostly on its Own: Pressure Differentials in the Lungs and Thorax 

Thankfully most of our breathing happens involuntarily. Aside from the autonomic nervous system’s regulation of breathing, there's also a constant negative pressure inside the lungs that allows our inhale to occur without effort. This pressure differential helps preserve the balance between the thoracic cavity (chest) and the abdominal cavity (belly), helping to keep contents in their respective containers. Sometimes if there is a lack of pressure in the lung fields—which can arise due to weakness, poor tone, chronically bad posture, or grief—we might see an increase in digestive issues in the abdomen such as bloating, acid reflux, or hiatal hernia. These are all symptoms involving not enough pressure in the digestive tract.

 

The Soft Tissue Ecosystem around the Lungs: Freedom and Mobility

From a connective anatomy approach, we see that the lungs are not isolated organs but are intimately connected to the soft tissue and fascial ecologies around them. As you breathe in, a key respiratory muscle, the diaphragm, contracts and descends. This movement has a direct influence on neighboring structures, including the heart and pericardium, esophagus and stomach, liver, the digestive system as a whole, muscles around the spine and ribcage, and the psoas. Asthma, COPD, bronchitis, colds and viruses, and chronic sinus infections are often accompanied by specific patterns of muscular tension in neighboring soft tissue. At times you may want to ask yourself: is it muscle ache or is it a respiratory issue?

The Lungs’ Relationship with Emotions and Grief

In the Five Element theory of Chinese medicine, the Lung is associated with the Metal element. Metal represents qualities of clarity, structure, refinement, and discernment. Just as precious metals in the earth’s crust take a long time to be distilled, the emotional virtue of the Lung involves patience and cultivation.  Practices like meditation, breathing exercises, and spiritual study enhance clarity of thought, objectivity, and emotional resilience.

 

Each organ in Chinese medicine is associated with specific emotions, and the Lung is linked with grief and sadness. When one experiences prolonged emotional distress, it can affect the Lung's qi and result in respiratory issues or susceptibility to respiratory infections. If you’re going through extreme grief and your body feels weakened or sensitive, it’s wise to listen to that and not expose yourself to too much chaotic energy. On the other hand, nurturing the Lungs with breathwork, herbal support, and acupuncture may help people move through stuck grief and stagnant emotions.

 

Lungs as the Etheric Organ: A Bridge Between Body and Spirit

The Lungs' are believed to house the po spirits which are physicalized aspects of the soul in the body. The po spirits relate to the embodied feelings of morality (the bone deep feeling of knowing what is right vs. wrong), our sense of love, and our connection to incarnated experience in the here-and-now.  Respiration that feels deep and well-anchored in the body is essential for the po spirits to stay rooted in the body. In this way, a strong connection with the breath —through a meditation, movement, or yoga practice — helping develop the relationship between the material and immaterial aspects of life. Excessive use of screens — which can cause a concave chest posture, a disassociated relationship with the body, and shallow breathing — can impact the health of the Lung on a more than physical level.

Now that you’ve learned more about the energetic relationships of the Lungs, you can observe your own body and habits and look for ways to better support your Lung Qi (energetic health). Learn about specific ways to support the Lungs during the seasonal transition to autumn or learn about self-care practices to support emotional resilience. If you have specific questions about your own Lung health, you can schedule an appointment or learn about how acupuncture may help you.