Lung Meridian Biomedical & TCM Details

Modern herbal pharmacology is showing that the herbs in Lung Meridian benefit the respiratory system with specific anti-histamine, anti-inflammatory, immune modulating, and anti-microbial functions. 

Laboratory studies have shown both Magnoliae and Angelicae to have anti-histamine functions. (1,4) And most of the herbs in the formula have noted anti-inflammatory functions, with Magnoliae, Angelicae, Platycodi, skullcap, schisandra fruit, Cordyceps, and Ophiopogon showing strong anti-inflammatory action specific to the respiratory tract.

Studies, some of them clinical, have also shown herbs in this formula to improve lung function, protect lung tissue from damage, and prevent microbial infection in asthma and COPD patients or animal models .(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 24) One study had patients with moderate to severe asthma take Cordyceps daily for 3 months. The results showed a significant increase in AQLQ (Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire) scores and lung function, and a decrease in inflammation. (12) A study of Codonopsis showed improved forced expiratory volume, quality of life, increased walking distance, and reduced frequency of COPD exacerbation compared to conventional drugs. (9) Schisandra fruit, lowered airway hyperresponsivenss, IgE levels and immune cell infiltration in asthmatic mice. (10) Magnoliae was shown to benefit asthma patients when combined with corticosteroids, compared to corticosteroids alone. (1) In an animal model, Cordyceps was shown to reduce lung fibrosis and inflammation (13) and schisandra fruit alleviated lung injury (11).

Many of the herbs in Lung Meridian have broad-spectrum activity against virus, bacteria, and other pathogens. (2, 7, 15) Codonopsis was shown to protect the lung from infection in animals. (8) Skullcap was shown to prevent death, prolong survival time and decrease flu virus load in mice and protect them from Staph aureus infection. (5) Magnoliae showed broad anti-microbial activity against Listeria, E. coli, Staph aureus, RSV, flu, SARS and other microbes. (6)

Various herbs have immune-enhancing effects. A clinical study with Astragalus showed a 2.7 times lower risk of colds and flu in children with a history of allergies and chronic bronchitis. (7)  Astragalus, Ophiopogon, Codonopsis, and dandelion have also been shown to have immunomodulation properties.(16, 17, 18, 7)

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine view:

Bo He (Field Mint, Herba menthae haplocalycis) is cool and enters LU and LIV channels, disperses Wind-Heat, cools and clears the head and eyes, benefits the throat, vents rashes, relieves Liver Qi Stagnation, and expels turbid filth.

Shi Chang Pu (Sweetflag Rhizome, Rhizoma Acori talarinowii) is warm and aromatic and enters the HT, ST and LU channels; opens the orifices, vaporize Phlegm, calms the Spirit and disperses Wind, transforms Damp, harmonizes the Spleen and moves Qi and Blood, reduces swelling, alleviates sores and benefits the throat.

Xin Yi Hua (Magnolia Flower, Magnoliae lilliflorae) is slightly warm and enters the LU and ST channels; expels Wind-Cold and unblocks the nasal passages.

Bai Zhi (Angelica Root, Radix Angelicae dahuricae) is warm and enters the LU, ST and SP channels; expels Wind, eliminates Damp, unblocks the nasal passages and relieves pain, reduces swelling, and eliminates toxins

Jie Geng (Balloon Flower Root, Radix Platycodi) is neutral and enters the LU channels; opens the lung, spreads Lung Qi, expels Phelgm and benefits the throat, expels pus, raises Lung Qi and directs other herbs to the upper body.

Huang Qin (Chinese skullcap, Scutellaria baicalensis) is cold and enters the LU, ST, GB, LI and SI channels; clears heat, dries Damp, drains Fire and detoxifies, cools the Blood and stops bleeding, calms the fetus and calms rising Liver Yang.

Jin Yin Hua (Magnolia flower, Flos Magnoliae) is cold and enters the LI, LU, and ST channels; clears heat and resolves toxicity, vents and disperses external Wind-Heat, and clears Damp-Heat from the lower jiao.

Huo Xiang (Patchouli, Herba Pogostemonis) is warm and aromatic and enters the LU, SP and ST meridians; transforms damp, releases the exterior, harmonizes the Middle Jiao, stops vomiting and treat fungal infection.

Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion, Herba Taraxaci) is cold and enters the LIV and ST meridians; dissipates nodules, calms the Liver and clears the eyes, clears Heat, resolves Damp, relieves toxicity.

Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes Root, Atractylodes macrocephalae) is warm and enters the SP and ST channels; tonifies the Spleen and augments Qi, dries Damp and promotes water metabolism, stabilizes the Exterior, stops sweating, and calms the fetus.

Huang Qi (Astragalus Root, Astragalus membranaceus) is slightly warm, enters the LU and SP channels; tonifies Qi and Blood, strengthens the Spleen, raises Yang Qi of the Spleen and Stomach, tonifies Wei Qi and the lungs, stabilizes the Exterior, promotes urination and reduces edema, promotes discharge of pus, generates flesh and expels toxins, generates body fluids, and relieves numbness and pain.

Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Fruit, Fructus schisandrae) is warm, enters the HT, KI and LU channels and all five Zang organs; tonifies Qi, astringes Lung Qi leakage and stops coughing, tonifies Kidney and binds Essence, astringes sweat and generates fluids, quiets the Spirit, and calms and contains Heart Qi.

Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber, Ophiopogon japonicus) is cool and enters the HT, LU, and ST channels; moistens the Lungs, nourishes Yin, stops cough, nourishes Stomach Yin, generates Fluids, moistens Intestines, clears Heart and eliminates irritability.

Dang Shen (Bellflower Root, Radix Codonopsis pilosula) is neutral and enters the LU and SP channels; tonifies the Middle Jiao and augments Qi, tonifies the Lung, restores the constitution, nourishes the Blood and Body Fluids.

References:

  1. Park, C.S., et al. 2012. Effects of add-on therapy with NDC-052, an extract from Magnoliae Flos, in adult asthmatic patients receiving inhaled corticosteroids Korean J Intern Med. Mar;27(1):84-90. doi://10.3904/kjim.2012.27.1.84.  
  2. Zhao, H., et al. 2022. The Angelica dahurica: A Review of Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology. Front Pharmacol. Vol 13:896637. doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.896637.
  3. Li, J. et al. 2022. Polysaccharides from Platycodonis Radix ameliorated respiratory syncytial virus-induced epithelial cell apoptosis and inflammation through activation of miR-181a-mediated Hippo and SIRT1 pathways. Int Immunopharmacol. Mar 104:108510. doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108510.  
  4. Zhong Z., Yao Za Zhi. 2019. Effect of Scutellariae Radix on expression of inflammatory cytokine protein and gene in lung of mice with viral pneumonia caused by influenza virus FM1 infection. Dec;44(23):5166-5173. doi:10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.201910.09.401. 
  5. Wang, Z-L., et al. 2018. A Comprehensive Review on Phyochemistry, Pharmacolocy, and Flavonoid Biosythesis of Scutellaria Baicalensis. Pharm Bio. Vol 56(1):465-484. doi:10.1080/13880209.2018.1492620.
  6. Shang, X., et al. 2011. Lonicera Japonica Thunb.: Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of an important traditional Chinese medicine. J Ethnopharmacol. 138:1-21. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.08.016.
  7. Chen, J. K., & Chen, T.T. 2001. The Art of Medicine Press, Inc. City of Industry, CA. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology.
  8. Gong, Z., et al. 2022. Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharides attenuate Escherichia coli-induced acute lung injury in mice. Food Funct. Aug 1;13(15):7999-8011. doi: 10.1039/d2fo01221a.
  9. Shergis, J.L., 2015. Dang shen (Codonopsis pilosula) herbal formulae for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytother Res. Feb;29(2):167-86. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5248.
  10. Hyungwoo, K., et al. 2014. Antiasthmatic effects of schizandrae fructus extract in mice with asthma. Pharmacogn Mag. (10)37: 80-85. https://doi: 10.4103/0973-1296.127348
  11. Sun, K. et al. 2018. Schisandrin Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Lung Injury by Regulating TLR-4 and Akt/FoxO1 Signaling Pathways. Front. Physiol. 08 August:1104.
    doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.01104. 
  12. Wang, N., et al. 2016. Herbal Medicine Cordyceps sinensis Improves Health-Related Quality of Life in Moderate-to-Severe Asthma. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Vol:16. doi.org/10.1155/2016/6134593.
  13. Chen, M, et al. 2012. Protective roles of Cordyceps on lung fibrosis in cellular and rat models. J Ethnopharmacol. 2Sep 28;143(2):448-54. doi: 0.1016/j.jep.2012.06.033. 
  14. Yu, X. et al., 2019. Effectiveness and Safety of Oral Cordyceps sinensis on Stable COPD of GOLD Stages 2–3: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2019, Article ID 4903671. doi.org/10.1155/2019/4903671.
  15. Cheng, Y., et al. 2016. Antiviral activities of atractylon from Atractylodis Rhizoma. Mol Med Rep. Oct;14(4):3704-10. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5713.
  16. Seo, Y-S., et al. 2019. Codonopsis lanceolata attenuates allergic lung inflammation by inhibiting Th2 cell activation and augmenting mitochondrial ROS dismutase (SOD2) expression. Sci Rep.Feb 19;9(1):2312. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-38782-6.
  17. Chen, M-H., et al. 2016. Ophiopogon japonicus--A phytochemical, ethnomedicinal and pharmacological review. J Ethnopharmacol. Apr 2;181:193-213. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2016.01.037.
  18. Luan, F., et al. 2021. Extraction, purification, structural characteristics and biological properties of the polysaccharides from Codonopsis pilosula: A review. Carbohydr Polym. Jun 1;261:117863.  doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.117863.