How Your Lungs Protect You from Coughs and Colds – A Chinese Medicine Perspective
In Chinese medicine (TCM), your lungs play a vital role in keeping you healthy and protecting you from illnesses like coughs and colds. They’re responsible for circulating Wei Qi, often referred to as your body’s protective energy, which acts as a barrier against external pathogens like wind, cold, and dampness.
When your lungs are functioning well, they help your body resist these external influences, reducing your risk of getting sick. But if your lungs are weakened – perhaps due to stress, fatigue, or even unresolved emotions – your defences can drop, and you may find yourself more vulnerable to infections.
How Coughs and Colds Enter the Body
From a TCM perspective, coughs and colds are caused by "external pathogens" – environmental factors like cold, wind, or dampness. These pathogens can enter your body through your nose, mouth, or even your skin, disrupting your body’s balance and leading to illness.
Have you ever spent time outside in cold, windy weather without a scarf, only to wake up the next day with a scratchy throat or sniffles? That’s a classic example of how these external factors can invade when your defences are down. If your Wei Qi is strong, it will work to repel these pathogens, but when it’s weakened, the pathogens can take hold more easily.
Why Weak Lungs Can Lead to Constipation
It might sound surprising, but in TCM, the lungs and the large intestine are closely connected. They share a relationship that helps keep everything in the body moving smoothly. When the lungs are weak, their energy can’t fully support the large intestine, which can slow things down and lead to constipation.
A strong connection between these organs helps maintain balance – not just in your breath but in your digestion too.
How to Process Grief to Support Your Lungs
Grief doesn’t disappear overnight, but there are ways to work through it that can also help strengthen your lungs. Here are a few ideas:
Breathing exercises: Slow, deep breathing can help restore lung function and calm the mind.
Gentle movement: Activities like walking or yoga can help shift heavy, stuck energy.
Journalling or talking: Expressing your feelings can prevent grief from settling in the body.
Taking time to acknowledge and process emotions is just as important as looking after your physical health.
Protecting Yourself from Coughs and Colds at Home
Keeping your lungs healthy and your Wei Qi strong is key to avoiding illness, especially during the colder months. Here are some easy ways to protect yourself:
Dress appropriately: Wrap up warm and protect your neck and chest with a scarf on chilly or windy days.
Avoid draughts: Whether at home or out and about, sitting in a draught can weaken your defences.
Fresh air: Keep your home ventilated, but avoid sitting directly in cold airflows.
Simple habits like these can make a big difference in preventing coughs and colds.
Reducing Your Risk of Getting Sick
If you want to stay well, focus on keeping your body in balance. Here are some TCM-inspired tips:
Get enough rest: Sleep is essential for repairing and replenishing your energy.
Stay hydrated: Keeping your lungs moist helps them function properly.
Manage stress: Chronic stress can deplete your lung energy and weaken your immune system.
These small adjustments can help support your lungs and reduce your risk of illness.
Foods to Prevent Coughs and Colds
In TCM, food is seen as a form of medicine, and certain foods can help nourish and protect your lungs. Here are a few good options:
Pears: Hydrating and soothing, they’re excellent for keeping the lungs moist.
Ginger: Warming and stimulating, ginger helps to ward off cold and dampness.
Honey: Great for soothing a sore throat and supporting lung health.
Radishes: These help clear phlegm and support digestion.
White foods: Foods like onions, daikon radish, and white mushrooms are particularly beneficial for the lungs.
During colder months, focus on warm, cooked meals rather than raw or chilled foods, which can introduce cold into the body.
How to Care for Yourself When You’re Sick
If you do come down with a cough or cold, there are plenty of ways to support your recovery using TCM principles:
Rest: Your body needs energy to fight off illness, so don’t try to push through it.
Stay warm: Keep your chest, neck, and back covered to protect your lungs.
Drink warm liquids: Ginger tea, soups, and broths can soothe your throat and support recovery.
Steam inhalation: Breathing in steam can help to clear nasal congestion and moisten the lungs.
Eat light meals: Stick to easily digestible foods like soups or porridge to avoid overloading your system.
These simple steps can help you recover faster and prevent complications.
Your lungs do so much more than just help you breathe – they’re essential for keeping you healthy and balanced. Whether it’s strengthening them to prevent illness or supporting them while you’re unwell, taking care of your lungs is one of the best ways to look after your overall health.