Lung Meridian Disharmonies - TCM Theory

TCM Theory

Lung Meridian Disharmonies - TCM Theory

Below you will find the TCM Disharmonies related to the Lung Meridian. Each pattern contains a brief description of associated signs and symptoms, tongue and pulse diagnosis, and a list of acupuncture points that may be used to treat the disharmony.

Excess Patterns

Wind-Cold Invasion - excess pattern
  • General Signs & Symptoms:
    Fever & chills w/chills predominating, body ache, stuffy nose w/clear runny mucus, sneezing, scratchy throat, lack of sweat, possibly a headache
  • Tongue:
    Thin white coat
  • Pulse:
    Floating, possibly a little tight
  • General Treatment Points:
  • Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
  • LU 7 - release the exterior
  • Could add LI 4 w/LU 7 to release the exterior and clear the face
  • UB 12 - expel wind
  • GV 16 - usually only w/posterior headache
  • Could include UB 13 - LU Shu
  • If stuffy nose - LI 20
  • If scratchy throat a/or light cough - CV 22

Wind-Heat Invasion - excess pattern
  • General Signs & Symptoms:
    Fever & chills w/fever predominating, sore throat, stuffy a/or runny nose w/yellow discharge, headache, slight sweating, thirst
  • Tongue:
    Thin yellow coat or Thin white coat w/tip and edges being slightly red
  • Pulse:
    Floating, rapid
  • General Treatment Points:
  • Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
  • LI 4 - clear wind-heat, esp. from face
  • LI 11 - clear heat
  • GV 14 - clear wind-heat, release the exterior
  • UB 12 - wind
  • GV 16 - w/posterior headache, may leave out
  • GB 20 - w/headache, may leave out
  • If severe sore throat - LU 10
  • If high fever w/sore throat - bloodlet LU 11

Damp-Phlegm Obstructing - excess pattern
  • General Signs & Symptoms:
    Chronic cough which comes in bouts, profuse white sputum that is easy to expectorate, fullness of the chest, asthma is possible, can be either a chronic or acute condition
  • Tongue:
    Thick sticky white coat
  • Pulse:
    Slippery or Weak, floating & fine
  • General Treatment Points:
  • Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
  • LU 5 - resolve phlegm
  • LU 7 - restore descending function of the lungs, alleviate cough
  • LU 1 - LU Mu, clear excess, asthma, resolve phlegm
  • ST 40 - resolve phlegm
  • CV 17 - restore descending function of the lungs
  • CV 22 - esp. w/severe symptoms of coughing a/or wheezing
  • PC 6 - open the chest, usually used with emotionally related breathing constriction, could leave out
  • UB 13 - LU Shu
  • If chronic, tonify SP - UB 20, SP Shu
  • If chronic, tonify ST/SP - CV 12, ST Mu

Phlegm-Heat Obstructing - excess pattern
  • General Signs & Symptoms:
    Barking cough, SOB, asthma, chest oppression, yellow/green mucus (main difference from damp-phlegm above)
  • Tongue:
    Red, thick sticky yellow coat
  • Pulse:
    Slippery, rapid, full
  • General Treatment Points:
  • Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
  • LU 5 - resolve phlegm
  • LU 7 - restore descending function of the lungs, alleviate cough
  • LU 1 - LU Mu, clear excess, asthma, resolve phlegm
  • ST 40 - resolve phlegm
  • Could add CV 12 - ST Mu, to assist ST 40 in resolving phlegm
  • LI 11 - clear heat
  • LU 10 - clear heat in the lungs

Deficiency Patterns

LU Qi Deficiency
  • General Signs & Symptoms:
    Fatigue, SOB, weak voice, spontaneous daytime sweating, catch colds easily/frequently, pale complexion
  • Tongue:
    Pale, slightly swollen
  • Pulse:
    Empty
  • General Treatment Points:
  • Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
  • LU 9 - tonify LU Qi
  • LU 7 - restore circulation of LU Qi
  • UB 13 - LU Shu
  • GV 12 - can add in severe cases to reinforce UB 13
  • ST 36 - tonify Qi
  • CV 6 - tonify Qi
  • If upper warmer is deficient - CV 17 w/moxa
  • If upper warmer is severely deficient - UB 43

LU Yin Deficiency
  • General Signs & Symptoms:
    Dry cough possibly w/blood tinged sputum, dry throat a/or mouth, hoarseness, night sweats, mallor flush
  • Tongue:
    Red, no coat, probably peeled, horizontal cracks in the LU area possible
  • Pulse:
    Thin, rapid or Floating, empty
  • General Treatment Points:
  • Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
  • LU 9 - yuan source, can be used to tonify Yin as well as Qi
  • CV 17 - tonify upper warmer, descend LU Qi
  • UB 43 - tonify Qi and Yin of the lungs, esp. in severe a/or chronic cases
  • UB 13 - LU Shu, tonify LU Qi & Yin, stop cough
  • CV 4 - tonify Yin
  • KD 6 - tonify KD Yin
  • CV 12 - ST Mu, ST is the origin of the fluids
  • LU 10 - clear empty heat in the LU
  • If chronic - GV 12, clear heat in the LU

LU Dryness
  • General Signs & Symptoms:
    Not as severe as LU Yin Deficiency, dry cough, dry throat, hoarseness, dry skin
  • Tongue:
    Dry
  • Pulse:
    Empty, possibly Floating, empty
  • General Treatment Points:
  • Maciocia Treatment Points w/Valaskatagis commentary, modifications and additions
  • LU 9 - moisten the LU
  • CV 4 - tonify Yin
  • SP 6 - tonify Yin
  • CV 12 - ST Mu, ST is the origin of the fluids
  • Could add KD 7 to send mist back up to moisten the LU, KD 6 would work as well

Sources and More Information

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