The lungs control respiration. Respiration is the process, exchange of gases, oxygen and carbon dioxide between the body and the environment. Green plants, trees, grasses, etc. contain chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is a green pigment that traps and converts sunlight into energy which is then used to convert carbon dioxide (produced and exhaled by human beings and animals), water and minerals into carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts and seeds) and oxygen. This process is photosynthesis. The lungs include the throat, nose and sinuses.

Oxygen (air) is a vital element, gas. Human beings and animals have to breathe air, oxygen continuously in order to survive. A few minutes without it can result in death. Air (oxygen) is chi. The lungs control the breath and therefore are said to command the chi.

Quality of air is highly important. Air that is produced by trees and plants is fresher, healthier than air that is polluted by animals, humans, cars, airplanes, factories, etc. The temperature of air is also important. Air can be hot or cold, or dry or moist. Avoiding or moderating environment extremes (hot, cold, dry and damp) benefits the lungs; as excess heat can dry the lungs; excess cold can dampen, both of which can reduce the absorption of oxygen. Holding the breath (quality air) increases the absorption of oxygen in addition to other gases.

The lungs are also a function of blood (nutrients, cleansing), jing (sexual essence) and moisture, which in turn are a function of diet, exercise, sex, sleep, etc. The way of eating can support or weaken the lungs. A diet that is deficient in building foods tends to decrease the production of blood, which in turn weakens the lungs, heart, spleen, bones, etc. A diet that is excessively cold, cleansing tends to weakens spleen chi yang (digestive fire) which in excess, tends to cool and moisten the lungs. The lungs are located above the digestive organs. The fire, heat of the stomach and small intestines, rises up to into and heats, dissipates fluids within the lungs.

The lungs are naturally moist. Moisture, water facilitates the exchange of gases, oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and the external environment. Too much moisture can clog the alveoli (sacs) reducing the exchange. Too little moisture, i.e. dryness can collapse the alveoli. Weak digestion (digestive fire) tends to cool the lungs and in the extreme cause condensation, excess water which then cools, hardens into mucous and phlegm. Cold weather, temperatures can also have the same effect. In nature, cold in excess condenses and cools, hardens water into ice and snow, clear and white; just like clear and white mucous in the body whether in the lungs, nose, throat, ears, sinuses, etc. The color changes to yellow and green when the body, mucous, phlegm, etc. become overheated, i.e. cooked. Smoking, caffeine and excessive sex tend to dry the lungs as well as everything else.

The lungs control the body’s external immune system (Wei chi) via the regulation, i.e. the opening and closing of the pores, which not only regulates body temperature but also acts as a shield (closing the pores) in keeping out the six environmental evils (hot, cold, dry, damp, wind and summer heat). It is the first organ attacked by the six environmental evils: Open pores allow the six evils to enter and attack, penetrate the body. This is how one catches a cold. Cold, and or damp air travels with the wind, and usually enters the neck and shoulders, via the pores. Wind is light, airy and tends to rise. “Colds” tend to attack the upper part of the body (lungs, shoulders, neck and head). Many mothers tell their children in winter to cover their necks and wear a hat before they go outside. They are not being fashionable, just smart.

The lungs are the first line of defense against the six evils. Cold and damp are more prevalent during fall and winter while heat and dryness, spring and summer. Wind is prevalent anytime. The environment is very powerful. When the environment gets cold, the body mind gets cold. It is like standing in the rain. You always get wet. Cold in excess not only thickens fluids and slows movement but also drains the energy of the lungs and the heart, which in turn slows and reduces the movement of blood to the extremities, hands, feet and heat causing pain, coldness, stiffness, paleness, etc.

Cold can also attack the lungs from within. Dietary cold can indirectly attack, cool and moisten the lungs via the cooling of digestive fire. Too many cold, damp foods: Milk, yogurt, cottage cheese,ice cream, bread, pasta, cereals, salads, vegetables tropical fruits, juices, shakes, smoothies, ice water, cold drinks, sodas, sugar, etc. in excess tend to cool and dampen digestion (enzymes, acids, stomach, spleen,), elimination (loose stools, diarrhea), respiration (mucous, phlegm, coughing, snoring, sinusitis, sleep apnea, bronchitis, shortness of breath, asthma, pleurisy, pneumonia, etc.) and or weaken the immune system (catch colds easily). Lacto vegetarian, vegan, raw foods, fruitarian and sproutarian diets tend to be cold, damp. Cold in excess slows, cools and moistens.

An external attack of cold and damp that tends to produce the following symptoms:

Stage One: Common cold

1. Fever. Cold in excess tends to drain the body’s energy, heat, which in turn, forces the body to overheat to regain balance. When the body overheats, it not only burns excess cold but also produces a fever.

2. Itchy throat. Cold in excess reduces drains lung chi, energy, which in turn slows or obstructs the movement of fluids within the lungs, sinuses, throat, etc, which in turn, creates dryness, itchy throat.

3. Cough. The lungs like it moist. Respiration is smooth and easy when the lungs are moist. External cold and damp tends to increase mucous, phlegm, which in turn, clogs the alveoli, bronchial tubes, trachea, etc, impairing and irritating the breath producing shortness of breath and or coughing. Spicy vegetable soups help to reduce mucous and phlegm, improve breathing.

4. Clear, white mucous. Cold in excess tends to slow, thicken and congeal body fluids into mucous and phlegm which in turn can lodge within the lungs, throat, nose sinuses and ears. White and clear are the colors of cold.

5. Stuffy nose. See #4. Environmental cold tends to attack the upper body (head, neck, shoulders and lungs) first before it attacks the lower or middle part of the body.

6. Chest congestion. Cold congeals fluids inside the lungs, chest.

7. Aversion to cold. When you are cold, you fear getting colder. You only crave cold when you are hot. You catch cold because you are cold.

8. Stiff shoulders and neck. The shoulders and neck are irrigated, moistened by blood. Cold in excess tends to slow energy and blood flow to the muscles, tendons and ligaments in the neck and shoulders, making them dry and tight, limiting their range of motion (expansion and contraction) creating pain on exertion.

9. Daytime sweating. The lungs controls the opening and closing of the pores. Environmental cold in excess can weaken, drain the lungs (holding power) causing the pores to be left open allowing heat, energy and fluids (perspiration) to escape. Intermittent daytime sweating is generally a symptom of energy (chi) deficiency (lack of holding). The body is strongest (has the greatest holding power) during the day. Excess heat (coffee, tobacco, alcohol, fried foods, etc.) can cause daytime sweating but more profuse.

10. Tongue has normal thin white coating. The tongue in general is a reflection of the digestive system. Its coating represents the excess of stomach fluids, which naturally overflow onto the tongue causing a thin white coating, which is normal. The common cold initially does not attack the digestive system, i.e. the stomach.

The common cold in general is easy to cure if you can treat it at the onset (day 1 or 2) with excess heat in the form of spicy soups, hot teas, alcohol, hot baths, extra clothing, etc. You also want to avoid, decrease all cold foods and cold drinks, especially milk (any kind), ice cream, raw vegetables, juice and sugar. The body catches cold because it is cold; therefore, you cure it by doing the opposite, i.e. heat the body (produce a fever and perspiration). Heat in excess destroys cold. There are also herbal remedies, combinations like golden seal and echinacea that are also helpful, successful in defeating the common cold. Check with your doctor first.

Symptoms 1- 10 are the initial symptoms of wind cold attacking the lungs. Stage 2 represents a deeper attack. Spleen chi, yang deficiency (stage three) can also be a cause. The spleen is the origin of dampness and the lungs its receptacle. Digestive symptoms (abdominal bloating, loose stools, diarrhea, facial pallor, fatigue, etc.) will occur in addition to lung symptoms if spleen yang is weak, cold. Mushrooms, black fungus, poria and spices can be used in the diet to drain excess mucous and phlegm.

Stage Two: Excess mucous and or phlegm

11. Coughing with mucous (frothy) and or phlegm discharges. Excess cold congeals, thickens water into mucous and phlegm which can lodge in the lungs, sinuses, throat, nose and ears.

12. Splashing sounds in the chest. Excess liquids in the lungs cause splashing sounds.

13. Breathlessness. Excess mucous tends to congest the lungs, which in turn restricts the breath. The lungs are a filter and can easily become clogged with excess mucous and other debris, which decreases oxygen intake, absorption while increasing carbon dioxide. A certain amount of carbon dioxide in the blood is normal as it stimulates the breathing mechanism, which is why it is impossible to hold your breath. The desire to breathe increases as carbon dioxide in the bloodstream increases.

14. Snoring. Excessive water, mucous and or phlegm in the nose, throat and sinuses tends to cause snoring.

15. Sinusitis. Mucous and or phlegm can trap, lodge in the sinuses, making them dry, and in the extreme, inflamed. Spices can be used in cooking, soups to decongest the lungs, sinuses, mucous, phlegm.

16. Bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchi, lungs). Inflammation is caused by dryness. You cannot burn wet wood. Mucous and phlegm can obstruct the flow of blood and fluids within the lungs, bronchi, and in the extreme, causes dryness and inflammation. Spices can be added to the diet, soups, and stews as they are heating and drying, which not only helps to dissolve mucous but also moves blood and body fluids, up and out. Heat rises.

17. Tongue has thick, sticky white coating. A thick, white coating indicates excessive cold and damp.

Stage Three: Chronic Lung Chi deficiency

18. Shortness of breath. Phlegm congestion is generally the cause. The lungs, alveoli are like a balloon. They take in a great amount of air when moderately empty of fluids and less air, shortness of breath when the balloon is half-full of water. The breath is restricted.

19. Asthma. Anything (shortness of breath) can get worse. If you do not remove the cause, input then the effect, output keeps on growing. Cold and phlegm in excess can weaken respiration producing habitual shortness of breath, i.e. asthma.

20. Barking cough with profuse yellow or green mucous. The body, lungs are hot and active. Trapped white, clear mucous and or phlegm within the lungs, sinuses, etc. over time tend to overheat, turn yellow and green as well as hot. Hot mucous is drier, harder and more difficult to dislodge which forces the lungs to violently cough hard, bark in order to dislodge the phlegm. Radishes and turnips can help dissolve mucous.

21. Tongue has red body and thick yellow coat. The thick yellow coat indicates damp heat, which indicates the excessive consumption of hot foods, drinks (red meat, eggs, fried, foods, alcohol, etc.) and or overexposure to hot and damp climates (Southeastern United States).

Environmental heat and dryness (includes electric heat and smoking) can also attack the lungs. The following initial symptoms of wind heat:

1. High fever. Excess heat produces an excessively high, hot fever.

2. Thirst. Heat in excess dries the throat, lungs, etc.

3. Cough. Heat in excess dries the throat, lungs causing a cough. White fungus, American ginseng and honey help moisten the lungs.

4. Sore, swollen red throat. Excess heat dries, reddens and irritates.

5. Runny nose with yellow mucous. Excess heat moves up and out Yellow is the color of heat.

6. Slight sweating. Excess heat dries body fluids, which in turn reduces perspiration.

7. The tongue is red on the sides with or without a yellow coating. Red is the color of heat. The absence of a thick or thin yellow coating indicates the cause to be external, acute and not chronic, internal, dietary, spleen chi, yang deficiency.

The lungs control respiration, which in turn controls oxygen intake. Oxygen purifies and nourishes the blood, which in turn purifies and nourishes the body mind. The brain uses 20% of the body’s oxygen content. No cell, tissue can live without it. Exercise increases respiration, which in turn increases the circulation of blood, which in turn increases the exchange.

The pulmonary artery and vein connect the lungs and the heart. The pulmonary artery carries carbon dioxide and old blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation and cleansing, while the pulmonary vein carries oxygen-enriched blood from the lungs to the heart. The expansion and contraction of the lungs forces more blood in and out of the heart creating a ripple effect. The heart expands and contracts faster and faster to pump the increasing amounts of blood. Circulation of blood via the arteries, veins and capillaries increases. A lack of exercise tends to weaken both the heart and lungs, which tends to slow the movement of fluids, emotions, especially in the upper body. Lung chi disseminates, spreads fluids, chi and blood.

Emotions (form of energy) can adversely affect the lungs. Severe childhood trauma and or sadness, depression and grief in the extreme tend to drain, weaken the chi of the lungs. Heredity is also a cause. The lungs are a function of diet, exercise and climate, environment. Poor diet: too cold (moist) or too hot (dry) tends to cause many lung problems, including respiratory allergies. Hot spices and bitter herbs can drain excess mucous, phlegm while honey, sugar, soy milk, lily bulbs and white fungus can moisten the lungs.