Lung (LU)

Overview

The Lung meridian opens the daily Qi cycle, active during the hours of 3-5 AM when the body's energy shifts from the deepest Yin phase (Liver time, 1-3 AM) into the first stirring of new Yang. This is why many practitioners of qigong and meditation rise in the pre-dawn hours -- the Lung meridian's activation represents the first breath of a new energetic day, making it an ideal time for breathing practices and quiet reflection.

With only 11 points, the Lung meridian is the shortest of the primary meridians, yet its clinical significance is enormous. It is the first meridian taught in acupuncture training because it initiates the flow of Qi through the entire meridian system. The Lung is classified as a Taiyin (Greater Yin) channel, paired with the Spleen (Zu Taiyin), and this Taiyin pairing reflects their shared responsibility for taking in nourishment -- the Lung from air, the Spleen from food.

The Lung's position as the uppermost organ makes it uniquely vulnerable. Classical texts describe it as a 'canopy' over the other organs, exposed to wind, cold, heat, and dryness before any other organ is affected. This explains why respiratory illness is so common and why the Lung meridian's points are among the most frequently used in clinical practice. LU-7 (Lie Que) alone is one of the most versatile points in all of acupuncture, treating conditions from headache and neck pain to emotional grief and urinary dysfunction through its connection to the Conception Vessel.

Pathway

The Lung meridian originates in the middle burner (Zhong Jiao) at the level of the stomach, descends to connect with the large intestine, then ascends through the diaphragm to enter the lungs. From the lungs it rises to the throat, crosses laterally beneath the clavicle, and emerges at the anterior shoulder (LU-1, Zhong Fu). It descends along the anterolateral aspect of the upper arm, through the bicipital groove, past the elbow crease, and down the radial aspect of the forearm. It crosses the wrist at the radial styloid process (LU-7, Lie Que), passes over the thenar eminence, and terminates at the radial corner of the thumbnail (LU-11, Shao Shang). A branch separates at LU-7 and connects to the index finger to link with the Large Intestine meridian.

Functions

The Lung meridian governs respiration, controls the descending and dispersing of Qi throughout the body, regulates the water passages by sending fluids downward to the Kidney and outward to the skin, and administers Wei Qi (defensive Qi) that circulates on the body surface to protect against external pathogenic invasion. The Lung receives pure Qi from the air and combines it with Gu Qi from the Spleen to produce Zong Qi (Gathering Qi) in the chest, which powers both respiration and the heartbeat. The Lung also controls the opening and closing of the pores and sweat glands.

Common Symptoms of Imbalance

Cough, shortness of breath, asthma, chest tightness, nasal congestion, runny nose, frequent colds and flu, spontaneous sweating, dry skin, sore throat, hoarse or weak voice, thumb pain, wrist pain along the radial side, grief that constricts the chest, feeling of oppression or suffocation

Balancing Practices

Deep diaphragmatic breathing with emphasis on full exhalation (the Lung's descending function). The Lung Sound (Ssss) from Six Healing Sounds qigong. Tai Chi's emphasis on coordinating breath with movement. Dry skin brushing to stimulate Wei Qi. Walking in fresh air, especially in morning hours. Singing to strengthen the voice and open the chest. Cold water face washing to stimulate Lung Qi.