Author
Bowtie Team
Updated on
2025-07-25
Disclaimer: This article is translated with the assistance of AI.
Hong Kong’s unpredictable weather often leads to coughs and phlegm—discover expert Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) advice on nourishing your lungs with diet, exercise, breathing techniques, acupressure, and herbal remedies. Plus, whip up 5 simple soups at home for quick relief and better respiratory health!
Lung-Moistening Acupoints Guide
Traditional Chinese medicine uses acupoint massage to achieve lung-moistening effects. Here are some common lung-moistening acupoints:
Hegu
Location: On the back of both hands, at the tiger’s mouth.
Massage method: Use the pad of your thumb to rub.
Duration and frequency: 1-3 minutes each time, 3 times a day.
Yingxiang
Location: Beside both nostrils.
Massage method: Use the pad of your index finger to press.
Duration and frequency: 1-3 minutes each time, 3 times a day.
Quchi
Location: On the outer side of the elbow, in the depression at the end of the crease when the elbow is bent.
Massage method: Use the pad of your thumb to rub.
Duration and frequency: 1-3 minutes each time, 3 times a day.
Zusanli
Location: On the front outer side of the lower leg, 3 inches below the outer knee depression (about four fingers wide).
Massage method: Use the pad of your thumb to rub.
Duration and frequency: 1-3 minutes each time, 3 times a day.
Chize
Location: On the elbow crease, at the radial edge of the biceps tendon.
Massage method: Use the pad of your thumb to rub.
Duration and frequency: 1-3 minutes each time, 3 times a day.
Who is Acupoint Massage Suitable For?
It’s suitable for anyone without external injuries or skin ulcers at the acupoint locations. However, people with dry skin conditions, diabetes, the elderly, and children have more delicate skin, so be mindful of the pressure intensity.
What Foods or Fruits Can Moisten the Lungs?
The following 10 foods or fruits can all help achieve lung-moistening effects:
Pear
Benefits: Clears the lungs and soothes the throat, packed with plenty of water, potassium, vitamins, and other nutrients. It’s also effective for sore throats caused by colds.
Suitable for: Those with lung yin deficiency, dry cough, and dry mouth or throat.
Precautions: Diabetics should avoid excessive intake. People with cold-type coughs should steer clear.
Lily
Benefits: Moistens the lungs to stop cough, calms the mind and soothes the spirit.
Suitable for: Those with lung deficiency leading to chronic cough or dry heat cough.
Precautions: People with cold-type coughs should not use lily alone; those allergic to lily should avoid it.
Tremella (White Fungus)
Benefits: Moistens the lungs to stop cough, enhances beauty and skin health, boosts immunity.
Suitable for: Those with lung deficiency leading to chronic cough or dry heat cough.
Precautions: People with constipation should avoid excessive intake.
Honey
Benefits: Tonifies the middle and relieves urgency, moistens the lungs to stop cough, lubricates the intestines for bowel movement.
Suitable for: Those with lung yin deficiency, dry cough, and dry mouth or throat.
Precautions: Diabetics should avoid excessive intake. People with phlegm-dampness should steer clear.
Lotus Root
Benefits: Reduces inflammation, stops cough and resolves phlegm, regulates gastrointestinal function.
Suitable for: Those with spleen and stomach weakness, or cough due to cold, heat, or dry phlegm.
Precautions: Diabetics should avoid excessive intake.
Benefits: Expels phlegm, moistens the lungs, stops cough, quenches thirst.
Suitable for: Those with heat-type or dry cough.
Precautions: Diabetics should avoid excessive intake; those with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold prone to diarrhea should use cautiously.
Chinese Yam
Benefits: Boosts qi and nourishes yin, moistens the lungs, tonifies spleen and kidneys, consolidates essence and stops vaginal discharge, desensitizes, and lowers blood sugar.
Suitable for: People with weakness in lungs, spleen, or kidneys.
Precautions: Diabetics should avoid excessive intake.
Apple
Benefits: Strengthens the spleen, stimulates appetite and aids digestion, moistens the lungs, resolves phlegm, and stops cough. Additionally, apple peel has anti-diarrheal effects.
Suitable for: Those with lung yin deficiency, dry cough, and dry mouth or throat.
Precautions: Diabetics should avoid excessive intake.
Lotus Seed
Benefits: Tonifies the spleen to stop diarrhea, clears the mind and nourishes the spirit, benefits the kidneys. In TCM, there’s a method called “cultivating earth to generate metal,” which means regulating gastrointestinal digestion and absorption can improve the body’s fluid absorption and distribution, achieving lung-moistening effects.
Suitable for: Those with spleen and stomach weakness or dry skin.
Precautions: Not suitable for those with indigestion or dry, hard stools.
Water Chestnut
Benefits: Generates fluids to moisten the lungs, resolves phlegm and benefits the intestines, aids digestion and relieves bloating.
Suitable for: Those with dry lung cough, throat discomfort, dry mouth, and thirst.
Precautions: Avoid eating raw; not suitable for those with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold or loose stools.
Lung-Nourishing Soup Recipes
Below, we’ll share 5 nourishing soup recipes, including their benefits, ingredients, cooking methods , suitable people or situations, and some precautions – perfect for keeping your lungs happy and healthy!
Glehnia, Polygonatum & Ophiopogon Soup
【Ingredients】Northern glehnia root 15g, polygonatum 15g, lily bulb 15g, ophiopogon 15g, astragalus 10g, lotus seeds 15 qian (57g), longan aril 10 pieces, lean pork 250g.
【Benefits】Strengthens the spleen and nourishes the lungs, clears the heart and calms the mind.
【Cooking Method】Blanch the lean pork; wash the remaining ingredients and set aside. Bring water to a boil, add all ingredients, simmer for 1 hour, then season with salt and enjoy.
【Suitable For】Those with lung and spleen qi deficiency, dry throat, or cough. Suitable year-round.
【Precautions】Use with caution if you have spleen deficiency with loose stools.
Steamed Pear with Fritillary Bulb
【Ingredients】1 honey pear, fritillary bulb 6g, rock sugar/brown sugar to taste.
【Benefits】Moistens the lungs, stops cough, and resolves phlegm.
【Cooking Method】Wash and peel the pear, cut open, remove the core to make a pear cup, add fritillary bulb and rock/brown sugar, cover with the pear lid, secure with a toothpick, place in a bowl with water, and steam over water for 45 minutes.
【Suitable For】Those with yin deficiency and dry cough; women during menstruation can switch to brown sugar.
【Precautions】Not suitable for cold-type cough; diabetics should use caution.
Sea Coconut, Lily & Silkie Chicken Soup
【Ingredients】1 silkie chicken, sea coconut 10g, lily bulb 15g, 4 honey dates, northern glehnia root 15g, polygonatum 15g, 3 slices ginger.
【Benefits】Nourishes yin and moistens the lungs.
【Cooking Method】Wash the silkie chicken, remove innards, slit the abdomen without cutting through. Rinse again and blanch. Soak lily bulbs in warm water until soft. Wash other ingredients. Place all in a pot with 1500ml water, bring to a boil for 20 minutes, then simmer on low for 1.5 hours, season and serve.
【Suitable For】Those with chronic cough and dry heat, especially in autumn and winter.
【Precautions】Use with caution if you have weak spleen and stomach.
Dampness-Removing Lung-Moistening Soup
【Benefits】Strengthens the spleen and removes dampness, moistens the lungs and stops cough.
【Ingredients】Chinese yam 15g, gorgon fruit 15g, lily bulb 12g, northern and southern apricot kernels 12g each, coix seed 20g, lotus seeds 12g, tangerine peel 6g, 4 slices ginger, lean pork about 200g.
【Cooking Method】Blanch the lean pork; soak tangerine peel to soften and remove the pith; wash remaining ingredients. Bring water to a boil, add all, simmer for 1 hour, season with salt and enjoy.
【Suitable For】Those with spleen deficiency and dampness, poor appetite, fatigue, dry throat with easy coughing, or weak constitution prone to colds.
【Precautions】Coix seed promotes mild diuresis and descends qi; pregnant women or those with fever from colds should use caution.
Glehnia, Lotus & Tremella Papaya Soup
【Ingredients】Northern glehnia root 15g, lotus seeds 30g, tremella 30g, papaya 500g (1 piece), yellow fish maw 100g, 3 red dates, 3 slices ginger, rock sugar to taste.
【Benefits】Nourishes yin and moistens the lungs, strengthens the spleen and boosts qi, benefits the stomach and generates fluids, nourishes the heart and calms the mind.
【Cooking Method】Boil fish maw in ginger-onion water for 10 minutes, soak overnight, wash and cut into large pieces; soak tremella in water, remove hard stems, wash and tear apart; peel papaya, remove seeds, wash and cut into large pieces; pit red dates; wash ginger. Place all in a stewing pot with 1500ml water, steam over water for 1.5 hours, add rock sugar to taste, and serve at a comfortable temperature.
【Suitable For】Those with yin deficiency and lung dryness, especially in autumn and winter.
【Precautions】Diabetics should use caution.
How to Moisten Lungs in Daily Life?
Dietary Habits
Eat more foods that generate fluids, nourish yin, and are juicy and moisturizing, while avoiding spicy and fried foods. This helps keep the lungs moist, maintains their proper functions of dissemination and descent, and reduces discomfort from symptoms like nasal allergies.
Personal Care
Try the tongue-to-palate breathing method: Close your mouth, press your tongue against the upper gums starting from the root, and breathe naturally through your nose. For an advanced version, combine with abdominal breathing—inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 2 seconds, exhale for 6 seconds. Doing this often will increase saliva in your mouth and improve respiratory function.
Exercise
Running, Ba Duan Jin (Eight Pieces of Brocade), and Pilates are all effective for strengthening the heart, lungs, and core muscles. Moderate exercise can boost metabolism and enhance cardiopulmonary function.
Common Questions
What Chinese Herbs Are Recommended for Moistening Lungs?
1. Ophiopogon (Mai Dong)
【Nature and Channels】Sweet, slightly bitter, slightly cold. Enters the heart, lung, and stomach channels.
【Functions】Nourishes yin and moistens the lungs, benefits the stomach and generates fluids, clears the heart and removes vexation.
【Indications】Used for lung yin deficiency with dry cough and sticky phlegm due to dryness and heat.
2. Glehnia (Bei Sha Shen)
【Nature and Channels】Sweet, slightly bitter, slightly cold. Enters the lung and stomach channels.
【Functions】Nourishes lung yin, clears dryness and heat, benefits the stomach and generates fluids.
【Indications】Used for dry cough with scant phlegm due to lung yin deficiency.
What’s the Difference in Lung Moistening Methods Between Summer and Winter?
In Chinese medicine, there’s a saying: “Light in summer, rich in winter,” meaning lung-moistening dietary therapies should be light and simple in summer, while focusing on nourishing yin and supplementing qi in winter.
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