Lung Yang Deficiency
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The Lungs in Chinese Medicine The concept of Yang The concept of Deficiency
Key attributes
Chinese name: 肺阳虚 Pinyin name: Fèi Yáng Xū
Pattern nature: Empty
Pattern hierarchy: Specific pattern under Yang Deficiency
Causes
Precursor patterns: Kidney Yang Deficiency Lung Qi Deficiency
Common causes: 1. External Wind and Cold, 2. Aging
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Fatigue Wheezing No thirst Cold limbs Weak voice and five other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Slow (Chi), Slowed-down (Huan), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue description: Swollen pale tongue with slippery white coating
Treatment
Treatment principle: Warm the Lungs, strengthen the Spleen, remove Phlegm, tonify Lung Qi and Yang
Common formulas: Gan Cao Gan Jiang Tang Si Jun Zi Tang Sheng Mai San
Pathology
The general symptom of Lung Yang Deficiency is coughing and wheezing with profuse sputum, but the sputum is thin and watery. There is also Cold characters such as cold limbs and back, feeling of cold and easy to get cold or flu. It is because the lacking of Yang fails to warm the body.
If this pattern is seen in consumptive lung disease, there are additional manifestations such as short of breath, no thirst, frequent urination an etc. It is because the Deficient Qi and Yang fails to generate Body Fluids to moisten the Lungs. Use Gan Cao Gan Jiang Tang together with Si Jun Zi Tang.
If this pattern is seem in asthma, There are additional symptoms like wheezing, short of breath, weak voice, spontaneous sweating. The Cold invade the Lungs and settles down there. Often there is also Phlegm accompanying. In this case, use Sheng Mai San together with Gan Cao Gan Jiang Tang and Milkvetch roots.
Lung Yang Deficiency is more seen among the elderly or these with weak constitution. It gets worse during winter season or in cold environment.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Lung Yang Deficiency can derive from Kidney Yang Deficiency Lung Qi Deficiency
External Wind and Cold : Prolonged exposure to cold and windy environment can consume body Qi and Yang. The pattern get more obvious during winter season and in cold highland areas.
Aging : Lungs' function regresses when people gets old. This pattern is more seen among the elderly.
Diagnosing Lung Yang Deficiency
Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Pulse type(s): Slow (Chi), slowed-down (Huan) or wiry (Xian)
Tongue description: Swollen pale tongue with slippery white coating
Main symptoms: Fatigue Wheezing No thirst Cold limbs Weak voice Pale complexion Shortness of breath Spontaneous sweating Frequent Colds or Flu Coughing with copious clear thin sputum
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the coughing and wheezing with profuse clear thin sputum.
Treating Lung Yang Deficiency
Treatment principle
Warm the Lungs, strengthen the Spleen, remove Phlegm, tonify Lung Qi and Yang
Herbal formulas used to treat Lung Yang Deficiency
Si Jun Zi Tang
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi. Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach.
Formula summary
Si Jun Zi Tang is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1107 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Qi.
Besides Lung Yang Deficiency, Si Jun Zi Tang is also used to treat Qi Deficiency or Stomach Qi Deficiency.
Gan Cao Gan Jiang Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Lungs. Strengthens the Stomach.
Formula summary
Gan Cao Gan Jiang Tang is a 2-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm Interior Cold.
Sheng Mai San
Source date: Yuan Dynasty
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Augments Qi. Supplies the Yin. Stops excessive sweating. Generates Body Fluids.
Formula summary
Sheng Mai San is a 3-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in Yuan Dynasty, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Qi.
Consequence patterns
The Lungs control dispersing and descending Body Fluids throughout the body to the space between the skin and muscles.
If this function is impaired, Body Fluids overflows out of their channels and settle under the skin, resulting in Oedema.