Thin chest according to Chinese Medicine
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.
Thin chest can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like thin chest here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here thin chest is often associated with dry cough, weak voice and dry mouth in the pattern “Lung Yin Deficiency”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of thin chest we’ve identified four herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat thin chest.
Lung Yin Deficiency, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause thin chest
In Chinese Medicine thin chest is a symptom for the pattern "Lung Yin Deficiency". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Lung Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Exterior Heat and Dryness invades the Lungs and exhausts the Body Fluids. It eventually leads to Lung Yin Deficiency, if not intervened for a long time.
In addition to thin chest, other symptoms associated with Lung Yin Deficiency include dry cough, weak voice and dry mouth.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Lung Yin Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Absence Of Menstruation.
Lung Yin Deficiency is often treated with Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Unprepared Rehmannia - Di Huang - as a key herb). Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that enrich yin and moisten dryness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nourishes the Yin".
Four herbal formulas that might help with thin chest
Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang
Source date: the 18th century
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Yin. Improves throat. Resolves toxicity. Clears the Lungs.
Why might Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang help with thin chest?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Lung Yin Deficiency' of which thin chest is a symptom.
Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang
Source date: 1658 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears dryness. Moistens the Lungs.
Why might Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang help with thin chest?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Lung Yin Deficiency' of which thin chest is a symptom.
Bu Fei E Jiao Tang
Source date: 1119 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Yin. Controls coughing. Stops bleeding. Tonifies the Lungs.
Why might Bu Fei E Jiao Tang help with thin chest?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Lung Yin Deficiency' of which thin chest is a symptom.
Jiu Xian San
Source date: Yuan dynasty
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Secures the Lungs. Stops coughing. Augments Qi . Nourishes Yin.
Why might Jiu Xian San help with thin chest?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Lung Yin Deficiency' of which thin chest is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat thin chest
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with thin chest?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat thin chest as a symptom, like Mai Men Dong Tang or Bu Fei E Jiao Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Dwarf Lilyturf Root (Mai Dong) help with thin chest?
Because Dwarf Lilyturf Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat thin chest as a symptom, like Mai Men Dong Tang or Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang for instance.
Dwarf Lilyturf Roots is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Replenishes Yin Essence and promotes secretions. Lubricates and nourishes the Stomach. Soothes the Lung. Nourishes the Heart.
Why might Ginseng (Ren Shen) help with thin chest?
Because Ginseng is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat thin chest as a symptom, like Mai Men Dong Tang or Jiu Xian San for instance.
Ginseng is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Very strongly tonifies the Qi. Tonifies the Lungs and Spleen. Assists the body in the secretion of Fluids and stops thirst. Strengthens the Heart and calms the Shen (mind/spirit).
Why might Donkey-Hide Gelatin (E Jiao) help with thin chest?
Because Donkey-Hide Gelatin is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat thin chest as a symptom, like Bu Fei E Jiao Tang or Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang for instance.
Donkey-Hide Gelatin is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney, the Liver and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies and nourishes Blood. Stops bleeding. Moistens and lubricates Yin.
Why might Apricot Seed (Xing Ren) help with thin chest?
Because Apricot Seed is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat thin chest as a symptom, like Bu Fei E Jiao Tang or Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang for instance.
Apricot Seeds is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Large intestine and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Stops cough and wheezing caused by either Heat or Cold. Lubricates the Intestines and relieves constipation.
Other symptoms often associated with thin chest
Dry cough Weak voice Dry mouth Dry throat Tiredness Night sweats Malar flush Hot palms and soles Insomnia Feeling of heat in the afternoon