The Lung Meridian
The Lung is a good place to begin our study of the twelve major meridians because its main function is the intake of Qi. As we breathe in fresh, clean air, our Lung meridian extracts Air Qi to descend and disperse it throughout the body. The Lung also has an important role in immune function, as it relates to the skin and our physical boundary to the world around us. As part of the Metal Element, the Lung is paired with the Large Intestine. Physically and psychologically, the Lung represents our ability to receive and our ability to let go.
The Lung pathway begins just below the collarbone, in the pectoralis muscle. It travels down the arm to the thumb, and there are a total of 11 acupressure points on the Lung meridian.
The Lung relates to the color white, the season Autumn, old age, dryness, grief, the pungent or spicy flavor, breathing, the nose, and the skin. The time of day that the Lung is at its peak is 3:00 to 5:00 AM. A person with a Lung imbalance might have breathing difficulties, skin disorders, rashes, dryness, fatigue, runny nose, and a tendency to sweat with very little exertion. Weakness in the Lung may also cause a person to get sick easily with colds and flu.
To nourish your Lung, try wearing white more often, letting yourself cry over a sad movie, and practicing breathing exercises and meditation. Pungent foods affect the Lung, so adding more ginger, garlic, and onions to your diet may be helpful. Other foods which nourish the Lung include radish, pear, melon, peanut, and egg.