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.
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The Lungs in Chinese Medicine The concept of Yin The concept of Deficiency
Key attributes
Chinese name: 肺阴虚 Pinyin name: Fèi Yīn Xū
Pattern nature: Empty
Pattern hierarchy: Specific pattern under Yin Deficiency
Common combinations: Kidney and Lung Yin Deficiency Stomach and Lung Yin Deficiency
Causes
Precursor patterns: Kidney Yin Deficiency Lung Qi Deficiency Stomach Yin Deficiency and three other possible precursors
Common causes: 1. Excessive use of voice, 2. Smoking, 3. Emotional stress
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Thin chest Hoarse voice Tickly throat Aversion to speak
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue description: Normal or red color with no coating
Treatment
Treatment principle: Tonify Lung Yin, nourish Body Fluids, clear Empty-Heat if necessary.
Common formulas: Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang Bu Fei E Jiao Tang and two other formulas
Exterior Heat and Dryness can invade the Lungs and exhausts the Body Fluids. If it is not dealt with for a long time, it leads to Lung Yin Deficiency. Typical manifestations are dry cough, throat and mouth, aversion to speak as well as Hoarse voice.
Other factors can cause this pattern such as the Deficiency of Kidneys or Stomach Yin as well as prolonged Lung Qi Deficiency due to excessive smoking or use of voice.
Empty-Heat symptoms appear if the Lung Yin Deficiency condition is not treated for a while. Patients can feel malar flush, low-grade fever as well as Heat in the palms and chest, especially in the evenings.
Lung Yin Deficiency generally occurs in middle-aged and elderly patients as a result of overwork, irregular diet and smoking. However, it can also occur in a child after whooping cough.
Precursor patterns: Lung Yin Deficiency can derive from Kidney Yin Deficiency Lung Qi Deficiency Stomach Yin Deficiency Lung Dryness Lung Heat Dry-Phlegm in the Lungs
Excessive use of voice : Excessive use of the voice over many years have a drying effect, which can eventually develop to Lung Yin Deficiency.
Smoking : Tobacco or cannabis is hot in nature. They can dry the the Lungs and leads to Lung Yin Deficiency.
Emotional stress : Sadness and grief normally deplete Qi. However, when
a person has a pre-existing constitutional tendency to
Yin Deficiency, these emotions may deplete Lung Yin.
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): Rapid (Shu), empty (Xu) or floating (Fu)
Tongue description: Normal or red color with no coating
Main symptoms: Thin chest Hoarse voice Tickly throat Aversion to speak
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the dry cough, weak hoarse voice, dry
throat and night sweating.
Tonify Lung Yin, nourish Body Fluids, clear Empty-Heat if necessary.
The top herbs in Bai He Gu Jin Tang are Lily Bulbs (Bai He), Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) and Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang)
Source date: 1573 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Lung and Kidney Yin. Lubricates the Lung and clears phlegm.
Bai He Gu Jin Tang is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1573 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish Yin and tonify.
Besides Lung Yin Deficiency, Bai He Gu Jin Tang is also used to treat Body Fluids Deficiency or Lung Dryness.
The top herbs in Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang are Mulberry Leaves (Sang Ye), Gypsum (Shi Gao) and Dwarf Lilyturf Roots (Mai Dong)
Source date: 1658 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears dryness. Moistens the Lungs.
Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang is a 9-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1658 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that disperse Dryness and moisten.
Besides Lung Yin Deficiency, Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang is also used to treat Dry-Heat or Dry-Fire.
The top herbs in Jiu Xian San are Poppy Capsules (Ying Su Ke), Chinese Plums (Wu Mei) and Schisandra Berries (Wu Wei Zi)
Source date: Yuan dynasty
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Secures the Lungs. Stops coughing. Augments Qi . Nourishes Yin.
Jiu Xian San is a 9-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in Yuan dynasty, it belongs to the category of formulas that secure Lungs and stop coughing.
Besides Lung Yin Deficiency, Jiu Xian San is also used to treat Lung Qi Deficiency.
The top herbs in Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang are Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang), Ningpo Figwort Roots (Xuan Shen) and Dwarf Lilyturf Roots (Mai Dong)
Source date: the 18th century
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Yin. Improves throat. Resolves toxicity. Clears the Lungs.
Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in the 18th century, it belongs to the category of formulas that enrich Yin and moisten Dryness.
The top herbs in Bu Fei E Jiao Tang are Donkey-Hide Gelatin (E Jiao), Aristolochia Fruits (Ma Dou Ling) and Apricot Seeds (Xing Ren)
Source date: 1119 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Yin. Controls coughing. Stops bleeding. Tonifies the Lungs.
Bu Fei E Jiao Tang is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1119 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish Yin and tonify.
Pay attention to avoid foods that are hot, spicy, fried and greasy. Eat grains, protein, vegetables and greens. If digestion function is well, also try some fruits (especially pears) and juices. Some specific foods are recommended such as asparagus, duck, black beans and milk.
As for other therapies, it is recommended to use oil massage, breathing exercises, cupping over upper back and meditation.
The patients should avoid using saunas or hot tubs. They should also avoid go to bed late and find a way to balance their overloaded work and emotional stress. Resting is very important in replenishing Yin, during the day and at night.
As for sports, avoid intense aerobic exercises or anything cause extensive sweating. It is recommended to try Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, stretching, light walk and swimming.
Please keep in mind that a Western Medicine condition can be caused by several Chinese Medicine patterns of disharmony and vice versa. As such a patient suffering from one of the conditions below will not necessarily be suffering from Lung Yin Deficiency, it is just one pattern that's commonly associated with the condition. Click on a condition to learn what other patterns it's associated with.
Absence of menstruation Peptic ulcers Hypertension Chronic bronchitis Asthma Pneumonia Pertussis Bronchiectasis Diabetes Laryngitis Lung atrophy Acute bronchitis Reactive lymphoid hyperplasia Radiation therapy side effects
Lily Bulbs (Bai He) is the key herb for Bai He Gu Jin Tang, a formula used for absence of menstruation caused by Lung Yin Deficiency
Typical symptoms for absence of menstruation caused by Lung Yin Deficiency: Red lips Dry cough Depression Blood spit Chest pain Malar flush Frequent sighing Shortness of breath Hot palms and soles
Recommended herbal formula: Bai He Gu Jin Tang
An excessive amount of grief and sadness injures the Lung Qi and leads to a situation where the Lungs fail to circulate and disseminate Qi around the body. Qi is the driving force for the Blood flow in vessels and channels. This results in Blood Deficiency and the absence of menstruation.
It typically progresses from a Lung Qi Deficiency that is not treated for a while and degenerates into Lung Yin Deficiency.
The treatment principle is to moisten the Lungs, nourish Lung Yin and Liver Blood,...Read more about absence of menstruation
Kidney and Lung Yin Deficiency
A chronic condition of Lung Yin deficiency may lead to Kidney Yin Deficiency too
Lung Yin Deficiency frequently derives from Kidney Yin Deficiency. The reverse is also true.