TCM- Functions of the Lung

Lung

Functions:
Governs Qi and respiration
Controls channel and blood vessels
Regulates all physiological activities
Manifests in body hair
Opens into the nose
Houses the Corporeal Soul
Is Affected by worry/grief, and sadness

Here are some of those functions in a little more detail:

Governs Qi and Respiration:
1. Weak Lung Qi can manifest in fatigue, weak voice and slight breathlessness

Controls Channels and Blood Vessels
1. Lungs govern qi and Qi is essential to aid the Heart to circulate the blood.

Diffusing of Qi:
1. If Lung Qi is weak and diffusing function is impaired, the defense qi will not reach the skin and the body will be easily invaded by exterior pathogenic factors (EPF).

Diffusing of Body Fluids:
1. Lungs diffuse fluids to skin and to space between skin and muscles in a fine mist. The mist moistens the skin and regulates the opening and closing of pores.
-When this function is normal, pores opena nd close normally
a. normal physiological amount of sweating
-When this function is in excess, pores become blocked
a. no sweating
-When this function is deficient, pores are over relaxed and stay open
a. spontaneous sweating

Controlling the Skin and Space between Muscles:
1. When this is normal, skin- has a luster, sweating- normal,there is a good resistance to EPF.
2. When this is impaired, skin- dry and rough

Opens to the Nose:
1. The nose is the opening of the lungs. This is where respiration occurs.
- If Lung Qi is strong:
a. Nose opens, breathes easy, sense of smell is normal
- When EPF infade:
a. Nose is runny, loss of smell, sneezing
- When invaded by dampness:
a. nose is blocked
- When Lungs have heat:
a. nose may bleed, loss of send of smell