Do you cough every morning and feel your throat congested with sticky phlegm? If you have brushed it off thinking, 'It is fine, all smokers are like this,' let us look at the important signals our lungs are sending.
Our ancestors observed these symptoms deeply long ago. In the Donguibogam, the lungs are compared to an 'umbrella' and an 'air purifier' for the body. When external cold qi, turbid smoke, or internal imbalances like stress exhaust the lungs, they cannot fulfill their original functions. The lungs govern qi among the five viscera and six bowels; when this qi stops circulating or stagnates, the entire body feels congested.
In particular, the concept of 'phlegm' was viewed as essential, and it does not simply mean sputum. Unnecessary waste products, damp qi, and turbid qi that stagnate without circulating properly were all considered phlegm. When this phlegm accumulates in the lungs, the bronchus narrows and the airway is blocked, causing symptoms of 'chest impediment.' A feeling of chest tightness, breathlessness, and distress as if a heavy stone is pressing down on the chest are hallmark symptoms of chest impediment.
Chronic cough, phlegm, and progressively worsening shortness of breath are clear evidence that lung qi has been damaged over a long period. The Donguibogam warned that when the lungs are damaged and phlegm accumulates, the strength to fend off external 'pathogenic qi' is lost, causing one to cough and become short of breath easily even with small changes. The lungs must be healthy for our body to receive clear qi and stay vigorous, but lungs filled with phlegm fail to function properly, just like a pond full of muddy water. The Donguibogam taught us hundreds of years ago how important it is to notice and care for these small signals sent by our lungs. Are your lungs doing well right now?
