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 two 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".
Two herbal formulas that might help with thin chest
Mai Men Dong Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Stomach. Generates Body Fluids. Directs Rebellious Qi downward.
Why might Mai Men Dong 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.
Other symptoms characteristic of Lung Yin Deficiency include dry cough, weak voice and dry mouth.
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.
Other symptoms characteristic of Lung Yin Deficiency include dry cough, weak voice and dry mouth.
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 Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach, the Heart and the Lung.
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 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 Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang for instance.
Ginseng is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Lung.
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 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 Stomach, the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Replenishes Yin Essence and promotes secretions. Lubricates and nourishes the Stomach. Soothes the Lung. Nourishes the Heart.
Why might Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) help with thin chest?
Because it is a key herb in Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Lung Yin Deficiency' (a pattern with thin chest as a symptom)
Unprepared Rehmannia is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Expels Heat by Cooling Blood. Tonifies Yin by promoting Fluid production. Soothes the Heart by calming Blazing Fire. Cools and nourishes.
Why might Mulberry Leaf (Sang Ye) help with thin chest?
Because it is a key herb in Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Lung Yin Deficiency' (a pattern with thin chest as a symptom)
Mulberry Leaves is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Liver and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and clears Heat. Clears Heat in the Lung with associated Dryness. Clears the Liver for either Wind-Heat or Yin Deficient Heat. Cools the Blood.
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