How Grief Impacts the Lungs in Traditional Chinese Medicine (And Why You May Be Getting Sick More Often)

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, grief is linked to the lungs—affecting both emotions and immunity

The holidays can be a beautiful time of joy, connection, and celebration—but for many women, this season can also bring up deep waves of grief. While grief is a completely normal and healthy emotion, staying in a prolonged state of sadness can take a toll on the body.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), every organ system is connected to an emotion. The lungs correspond to grief, and they’re also responsible for controlling wei qi—our body’s defensive qi that helps protect us from colds, viruses, and lingering illnesses. When the lungs become weakened, our ability to fend off sickness decreases.

How Grief Weakens Lung Qi

Feeling grief for a short period is expected and natural. However, when grief becomes long-term, heavy, or overwhelming, it can “consume” the qi of the lungs. This depletion is known as Lung Qi Deficiency, and it may present as:

• Getting sick more easily

• An illness that lingers and won’t resolve

• A cough that won’t improve

• Recurrent colds or respiratory symptoms

• Losing your voice or hoarseness

• Low immunity without an obvious cause

Because the lungs control our wei qi, depleted lungs mean weaker defenses—allowing illnesses to recur or stick around longer than they should.

Is Your Grief Becoming Prolonged?

There’s no single timeframe that defines “prolonged,” but if you’ve been feeling:

• Overwhelmed by sadness

• Emotionally stuck

• Unable to recover from a difficult season

…and you’re noticing a pattern of chronic or repeated illness, this may be an important sign that grief is impacting your lung qi.

How Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine Can Help

Acupuncture and East Asian herbal medicine work together to strengthen lung qi, support immune defenses, regulate emotions, and help your body emerge from the cycle of grief and recurrent illness.

By gently restoring balance, these therapies can:

• Strengthen your lungs

• Improve your body’s natural immunity

• Support emotional processing

• Reduce lingering cough or respiratory symptoms

• Help you feel grounded and more like yourself

  
  

If grief has been affecting your health, you don’t need to navigate it alone.

Ready to move through grief and strengthen your lungs naturally?

Book an acupuncture session with Dr. Danielle Rose in Annandale, VA and start supporting your emotional and immune health today.