Vital capacity usually is used to
measure an athlete’s latent energy. Vital capacity refers
to the capacity that a person exhales after the deepest inhaled
breath possible for that individual. It is the maximum of breathing.
It is also an indication of lung function.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the lung has three main
functions:
1. The lungs dominate Chi and controls respiration. This occurs
in two ways: dominating the Chi of respiration and the Chi of the
whole body. Dominating the Chi of respiration means that the lungs
area respiration organ through which the Chi (air) from the exterior
and the chi from the interior can be mixed. Through the lungs,
the human body inhales clear Chi from the environment and exhales
waste Chi from the interior of the body. Dominating the Chi of
the whole body means that the function of the lungs in respiration
greatly influences the functional activities of the whole body.
If the lung is deficient, there will be general lassitude, feeble
speech, weak respiration and shortness of breath.
2. The lungs dominate dispersing, skin and hair. Dispersing here
means distributing. It is through the dispersing function of the
lungs that defensive Chi and body fluid are distributed to the
whole body to warm and moisten the muscles, skin and hair. That
is also why smoking makes the skin dry with more wrinkles and an
older appearance. The skin and hair and the sweat glands, act as
a protective wall to defend the body from external pathogenic factors.
If the lungs are weak, it will fail in dispersing the Chi of water
and food, which will lead to pale sallow skin, and antipathogenic
(low) Chi and hence lowering the body’s resistance. This
is thought of as “catching a cold”. There may be frequent
spontaneous perspiration as well.
3. The lungs dominate descending, regulating the water passages.
This means the lungs have the function of promoting the circulation
of Chi and body fluid through the body and conducting them downwards.
If the lungs fail to descend, there may be upward perversion of
lung Chi with symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath. Regulating
the water passages means to regulate the pathway for the circulation
and excretion of water, promote and maintain water metabolism.
If the lungs fail in their function, there may be constipation,
edema and difficulty in urination. The nose and the throat are
the gateway of respiration. If the lungs fail there may be insomnia,
stuffy nose, hoarse voice or aphonia. With advancing age, the capacity
of oxygen in the blood is 5% to 10% lower than young people. So
after middle age, people should pay more attention to exercise
in order to delay lung debilitation.
Autumn is the season when the weather is changing
from hot to cold. The morning and evening are usually cool and
daytime is hot. The lung is the organ that is responsible for contacting
the outside. So it is vulnerable in this season. Since the weather
is changing, lung diseases such as common cold, cough, bronchitis,
and asthma are more prevalent.
Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that prevention is more important
than cure.
To prevent lung problems exercise regularly to improve the vital
capacity. The best exercise for the lungs in autumn include swimming,
mountain climbing, and Tai Chi Qi Gong. If you already have lung
problems, you should practice breathing exercises indoors then
advance your plan step by step to start exercising outdoors by
late springtime.
There is a dead zone in the respiratory tract around the area of
the trachea and bronchus. Even when the fresh air arrives in this
area, there is no mixing and exchanging of Chi. The mixing and
exchanging happen in the lungs, where the carbon dioxide is exhaled
and the oxygen is inhaled, thus, fast shallow breathing is inefficient.
Slow deep breathing is more efficient because there is more air
going down to the lungs for mixing and exchange. Slow deep breathing
calms the mood, balances the metabolism, and takes in more oxygen.
1. Long-term daily exercise is essential for good health. The above-mentioned
exercises involve deep breathing and are good for the lungs. With
mountain climbing especially, you will breathe in more pure clean
air and will feel happier. Acupuncture or Tui Na is a kind of passive
exercise, which can improve the immunity, unblock the lung meridian
and enable deeper breathing.
2. Autumn is a dry cool season. Hot spicy foods, meats and fish
may form internal heat that can create phlegm. Increase intake
of vegetables, and fruits. Pears, papayas, almonds, radishes, turnips
and turnip greens are recommended because they have the function
of moistening the lungs, and opening the respiration tract and
removing phlegm. Take Chinese herbs to strengthen the lungs. It
is essential to stop smoking and avoid polluted areas in this season.
3. Happiness is the best medicine. In Chinese, the word. “Medicine” is “Yao”.
Its character includes two parts: the upper part is grass and the
lower part is happiness. Grass plus happiness is “medicine”.
Its simple meaning tells us to have more vegetables and have more
happiness and illness will be gone.
Contact Li Hua L.Ac. TCMD at Atlanta Acupuncture Center or 404-250-9903 or e-mail
lihua@aac2000.com or surf her web site at www.aac2000.com
