Lungs and Large Intestine
Health Through the Metal Element

The Metal element (金, jīn) in Wu Xing is the phase of gathering, concentration, separating the wheat from the chaff. In the body it corresponds to the lungs and large intestine, the skin as the "third lung," the hair, the nose, and the emotions of grief and sorrow. In the classical formula, the lungs are called 相傅之官 — the "chancellor to the heart-emperor": they help the heart govern, filter and direct Qi, and defend the body from outside pathogens.

This article is an in-depth look at how the Metal element in a BaZi chart relates to the health of the lungs, intestines, and skin. If your Day Master is Gēng 庚 or Xīn 辛, or if your chart shows a sharp excess or shortage of Metal, this material speaks directly to you.

1 The lung meridian in Traditional Chinese Medicine

The lung meridian (手太陰肺經, shǒu tài yīn fèi jīng) starts near the first rib, runs along the front of the arm, and ends at the thumb. Its paired meridian, the large intestine (手陽明大腸經), runs from the index finger up the arm, across the shoulder to the face, ending at the wing of the nose. This hand-lung-nose connection explains why, in TCM, lung problems are often visible on the skin of the hands, and why lung disease always affects the nose and vice versa.

The lungs' functions in TCM:

• Govern Qi (主氣, zhǔ qì) — the lungs take in "heavenly Qi" through breath and distribute it through the whole body.
• Govern respiration (主呼吸).
• "Diffuse" and "descend" Qi (主宣发肃降) — like a "chancellor," the lungs issue orders upward and downward.
• Govern the water passages of the Upper Burner (通调水道) — which is why weak lungs mean a tendency toward swelling in the face and upper body.
• "Open into the nose" (開竅於鼻) — the state of the nose and sense of smell is a lung indicator.
• "Manifest in the skin and body hair" (其華在毛, 主皮毛) — the skin is the "third lung."
• Govern Wei Qi (defensive Qi) — the surface layer of immunity.

In TCM, the large intestine is responsible for "transmitting and transforming what's left over" (传化糟粕). This isn't just waste removal — it's a key mechanism for cleansing the body. TCM treats constipation not as a "local issue," but as a breakdown in the whole system.

2 Metal and emotion: grief and sorrow

Metal's "root emotion" is grief, sorrow (悲, bēi) and a deeper mourning (憂, yōu). The link runs both ways:

• Weak lungs → constant background sadness. When the lungs can't keep up, can't "diffuse" Qi, there's a feeling of heaviness in the chest, "causeless" sadness, a tendency to cry.
• Prolonged grief → a blow to the lungs. Unmourned grief settles in the lungs. TCM has long observed that after the loss of a loved one, especially an unmourned one, people often develop chronic bronchitis, asthma, allergies. These are documented cases.

Modern neurophysiology confirms the link too: bereavement raises the risk of respiratory infections 6- to 10-fold in the first year after a loss. Chronic depression objectively reduces lung function (measurable by spirometry).

That's why working through unprocessed grief is direct support for the lungs. Sometimes chronic asthma has only cleared up after psychotherapy focused on processing an old loss.

3 Weak Metal = asthma, allergies, pneumonia

When there's little Metal in a chart (under 5–7%), or the Day Master is Metal without support in the spring season, we speak of "empty" Metal. This is a typical "immune-deficient" pattern.

Symptoms of weak Metal

• Frequent colds, especially between seasons;
• Prolonged bronchitis, often progressing to pneumonia;
• Bronchial asthma, often with an allergic component;
• Allergic rhinitis, hay fever;
• Atopic dermatitis, eczema;
• Dry, thin, sensitive skin;
• Thin, brittle hair;
• Weakened immunity overall, frequent infections;
• Allergies to food, medication, household chemicals;
• Sweating easily, especially "for no reason" (disrupted Wei Qi);
• A weak, quiet voice;
• Shortness of breath with minimal exertion;
• Chronic nasal mucus, postnasal drip.

Chart signs

• A Gēng or Xīn Day Master in a spring month (寅 Tiger, 卯 Rabbit, 辰 Dragon) with no roots;
• Metal absent or minimal against a backdrop of strong Fire (Fire melts Metal);
• Birth in Wood's season without support.

4 Strong Metal = constipation, skin problems

The reverse situation: 40% Metal or more, a Metal Day Master in the autumn season with triple support. This is "excess" Metal, rigidity.

Symptoms of strong Metal

• Chronic constipation with hard stools;
• Coarsened skin, keratosis;
• Diverticulosis of the large intestine;
• Hemorrhoids, especially with hardened nodules;
• Dry, rigid skin;
• A tendency to form stones (Metal = "hardening");
• Extrasystole-type arrhythmias;
• Emotional "coldness," rigidity, an inability to be flexible;
• Chronic suppressed anger (Metal attacks Wood);
• A tendency toward perfectionism to the point of neurosis;
• Melancholic depression fixated on past losses;
• Excessive emotional restraint.

5 Chart signs: Metal attacked by Fire

In the Wu Xing cycle, Fire controls Metal (Fire melts Metal). When a chart has strong, unbalanced Fire, it "melts" Metal — creating acute lung and skin problems.

Specific configurations

• 庚 Gēng + 丙 Bǐng side by side — Yang Fire melts Yang Metal. If this pair sits on the Month or Hour pillar, there's an elevated risk of severe pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, and COPD.
• 辛 Xīn + 丁 Dīng — Yin Fire melts Yin Metal. More often produces chronic bronchitis and allergic asthma.
• 申 Monkey + 寅 Tiger chōng — a Wood-Metal clash, risking severe respiratory events plus limb injuries.
• 酉 Rooster + 卯 Rabbit chōng — subtle breathing disturbances, sinusitis, allergies.
• 巳 Snake + 申 Monkey — "hidden fire" in the Snake melts the Monkey's Metal.

These configurations are especially dangerous for smokers and workers exposed to dust or chemical fumes. If a chart shows Metal vulnerability plus occupational hazards, the risk of COPD and lung cancer rises significantly.

6 Skin, hair, nose — organs of Metal

Besides the lungs and intestine themselves, Metal governs several "outlying" structures.

Skin — the "third lung"

The state of the skin directly reflects the state of the lungs. What to look at:

• Dry, flaking skin — a lung Yin deficiency;
• Atopic dermatitis, eczema — weak lungs, disrupted Wei Qi;
• Hyperhidrosis, easy sweating — weak Wei Qi;
• Psoriasis — often tied to a Metal/Wood imbalance;
• Acne, boils — lung Heat + blood Heat;
• Rigid, coarse skin — excess Metal, "hardening";
• Premature skin aging — weak kidney Jing + Metal;
• Rosacea, sensitive skin with visible vessels — weak Metal + Heat.

The nose and sense of smell

"The lungs open into the nose":

• Chronic rhinitis — weak lungs;
• Nasal polyps — mucus (Tan) stagnation in the lungs;
• A loss or reduction in the sense of smell — weak lung Qi;
• Chronic sinusitis — stagnant Qi and mucus;
• Nosebleeds — lung Heat or weak capillaries.

The large intestine

The state of the large intestine is a parallel indicator of Metal:

• Chronic constipation — excess or dryness of Metal;
• Diarrhea, especially early in the morning (Metal hours) — weak Metal;
• IBS with constipation — stagnant Metal Qi;
• Diverticulosis — Metal rigidity;
• Hemorrhoids — stagnation in the Lower Burner from weak Qi;
• Intestinal polyps, adenomas — stagnant Qi and mucus.

7 Prevention for Metal

The main strategy is supporting breath, skin, and intestines as a single "outlet" circuit of the body.

Breathing practices

The most important thing for Metal. The lungs are the only internal organ we can consciously control (through breathing).

• Qigong, especially the "Six Healing Sounds" — the "sī" (sssss) sound — an ancient practice for the lungs;
• Box breathing: 4-4-4-4 (inhale-hold-exhale-hold);
• Deep diaphragmatic breathing, especially in the morning outdoors;
• Yoga with pranayama — especially nadi shodhana (alternate-nostril breathing);
• Walks outdoors for at least 30–45 minutes a day, ideally in a forest or near water;
• Running, swimming to build lung capacity;
• Avoid smoking in any form, including vapes and hookahs.

Routine and diet

• Humidify the bedroom, especially in winter (40–60%);
• Regular bowel movements — ideally in the morning after waking;
• Enough fiber — vegetables, fruit, whole grains;
• Fluid intake — 30–35 ml per kg of body weight a day;
• White foods for the lungs in TCM: pears, white radish, white fungus, almonds, lotus, rice;
• Pungent taste in moderate amounts — onion, ginger, garlic, white pepper;
• Limit mucus-forming foods if you're prone to mucus: dairy, bananas, sweets.

Color, direction, activities

• Color: white, gray, metallic tones;
• Direction: west (Metal's direction);
• Season for support: autumn is Metal's time — pay special attention to the lungs;
• Working with emotion: processing unmourned grief, giving yourself permission to be sad, to cry. Psychotherapy for prolonged depression.

8 Herbs and foods for Metal

Chinese herbal medicine is rich in remedies for the lungs and intestines:

The classical formula for weak lungs and immunity is Yù Píng Fēng Sǎn (玉屏风散), the "Jade Windscreen Powder." It's a "vaccine" against frequent colds, a preventive blend taken in courses through autumn and winter.

9 Da Yun: years of elevated lung risk

Two types of Da Yun are especially critical for the lungs:

Cycles of a "blow to Metal" (Fire)

If your Day Master is Metal, and a Da Yun with strong Fire arrives (Bǐng-Wǔ 丙午, Dīng-Sì 丁巳), this is a direct attack on the lungs. Fire "melts" Metal.

Symptoms: pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma flare-ups, COPD risk, skin flare-ups, especially in smokers.

Cycles of "excess Metal"

If you already have strong Metal, and the Da Yun brings even more Metal (Gēng-Shēn 庚申, Xīn-Yǒu 辛酉), this is hyper-rigidity: chronic constipation, skin problems with hardened lesions, depression fixated on losses.

During such a 10-year period, it's recommended to:

• Get an annual chest X-ray or CT scan (especially for smokers);
• Get spirometry if you have any breathing complaints;
• Monitor bowel function;
• Get a colonoscopy after age 45–50, especially with strong Metal;
• Get allergy testing if new allergic reactions appear;
• Seek psychotherapy for prolonged depression or unprocessed grief.

Annual risks

If your chart has 申 (Monkey) or 酉 (Rooster), Tiger years (寅) and Rabbit years (卯) are especially dangerous — chōng clashes. These are years to pay attention to your lungs and immunity.

10 Specific diagnoses by configuration

Metal is the element that "closes" the Wu Xing cycle and prepares the transition to Water's stillness. That's why Metal is tied to the theme of letting go: unmourned grief, old grudges, attachments that no longer serve. Many chronic lung and skin problems improve once a person goes through the difficult but necessary process of saying goodbye to what's no longer theirs. It's years of work, but it's worth it — easy breathing returns.