Feeling the temperature begin to change in the fall, even if ever so slightly in the intensely warm climate of Texas, always reminds me of how the human body is intimately connected to our environment. As the heat fades, moods begin to brighten, energy rises, and deeper sleep ensues. During this time of transition, I always discuss with patients the importance of the smooth flow of qi as we transition into a new season.
This is particularly important in hot climates, as the majority of people stay indoors during the peak months of summer in climate-controlled environments, resulting in a disconnect from both subtle and obvious seasonal shifts. This disconnect can often make transitions jarring or shocking to the body and mind.
As a result, I spend a large amount of clinical time teaching patients the importance of the many activities that can help influence and support the smooth flow of qi: qi gong, tai chi, breathing exercises / pranayama, walking, and behavior-change exercises such as practicing forgiveness, and letting go of anger, worry, and fear.
These practices greatly improve the health of all the organs via the removal of often deeply rooted qi stagnation and blood stasis; however, during the fall months I always emphasize the importance of the lungs and liver in the smooth flow of qi to cultivate health and vitality.
Practitioners are intimately aware of the role of the liver in the free flow of qi, but often neglect to consider the importance of the lungs in the smooth, systemic flow of qi. The lung governs the qi of the entire body, regulating the movement of qi and consequently blood / fluids throughout the body; and cultivating and circulating the body’s protective wei qi.
Besides emphasizing the aforementioned physical and behavior change exercises, acupuncture therapy also plays a powerful and effective role in helping to ensure the health and vitality of the lung organ; as well as the ability of the lung qi to flow freely, unencumbered by deficiency or stagnation.
The following are some of the most common acupuncture / moxibustion protocols I use to support the smooth flow of lung qi (and liver qi) during the fall season.
For free flow of lung / liver qi, boosting wei qi:
• Du 12 + BL 13 + LI 4 + Sp 6 + St 36
Du 12 or “Body Pillar” subdues internal wind, calms spasms, tonfies the lung qi, and strengthens the body. BL 13 is the back shu point for the lungs and regulates the lung qi, stimulates the dispersing and descending of lung qi, regulates the nutritive and defensive qi, tonfies lung qi, stops cough, and clears heat.
LI 4 dispels wind, releases and consolidates the exterior, stimulates the dispersing and descending of lung qi, stops pain, removes obstructions from the channel, and harmonizes ascending and descending. Sp 6 boosts the spleen, resolves damp, promotes the flow of liver qi, nourishes blood and yin, strengthens the kidneys, invigorates blood, removes stasis, cools the blood, stops pain, and calms the mind.
The ever-popular St 36 tonifes the spleen / stomach, tonifies qi and blood, regulates nutritive and defensive qi, regulates the intestines, raises yang, expels wind / damp, and drains damp.
I add the spleen / stomach points to strengthen earth, which can then nourish metal / lungs.
Moxa to boost the free flow of qi and nourish the lungs:
• BL 13 + BL 43 + Ren 6 + Lu 9
This is one of my favorite combinations to use with moxa to circulate and tonify the lung qi / wei qi and overall mental and physical vitality. BL 13, the back shu point of the lungs, regulates lung qi, stimulates the dispersing and descending of lung qi, regulates the nutritive and defensive qi, tonifies lung qi, stops cough, and clears heat.
BL 43 tonifies qi, nourishes essence and lung yin, invigorates the mind, stops cough, and calms asthma. Ren 6, the “Sea of Qi”, tonifies the qi of the entire body, regulates qi, boosts yuan qi, and resolves damp. Lu 9 expels wind, resolves phlegm, regulates lung qi, stops cough, tonifies lung qi and lung yin, promotes the circulation of blood, and clears heat.
This prescription is excellent for both deficiency and excess patterns, and can dramatically improve overall physical and mental vitality.
For free flow of the lung and liver qi, invigorating blood, & boosting vitality:
• BL 13 + BL 18 + Ren 17 + LI 4 + Liv 3
BL 13 regulates lung qi, stimulates the dispersing and descending of lung qi, regulates the nutritive and defensive qi, tonifies lung qi, stops cough, and clears heat. BL 18, the back shu point of the liver, expels wind, resolves damp heat, benefits the liver / gallbladder meridian, moves stagnant qi, and benefits the eyes.
Ren 17, the influential point of qi, is intimately involved with the circulatory and respiratory systems. Ren 17 regulates and tonifies the qi, disperses fullness in the chest, clears the lungs, resolves phlegm, and benefits the diaphragm and breasts. LI 4 and Liv 3, the ever-popular “Four Gates,” move qi and blood systemically, as well as gently tonify the qi.
Clinical Takeaway
I hope this short article inspires practitioners to always consider the lungs during the fall season. Stimulating the smooth flow of qi and blood provides a deep foundation for health as patients head into the winter season.
It is also important to remember that strengthening lung qi and clearing systemic stagnation not only supports the wei qi, but also helps patients become less susceptible to external influences / external stimuli that can prompt emotions such as sadness, worry, anxiety, and fear.
