Hand Taiyin Lung channel (LU)

The Lung channel, also known as the Hand Taiyin Lung meridian, is a fundamental concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) rather than a specific molecular target or receptor in modern pharmacology [1, 11]. It represents a functional system and pathway through which 'Qi' (vital energy) is said to flow, connecting the lungs with other organs and the body surface [1, 3]. In TCM theory, the Lung channel governs respiration, regulates water metabolism, and controls the skin and hair [1, 11]. While modern network pharmacology attempts to map the effects of 'Lung channel' herbs to specific molecular targets like ACE2, IL-6, or various ion channels such as the Epithelial Sodium Channel (ENaC), the term itself does not refer to a single protein, enzyme, or receptor [2, 5, 25]. Consequently, it is not classified as a therapeutic target in the conventional drug discovery sense [3, 4].

Other names

Lung meridianHand Taiyin Lung meridianFei JingHand-Taiyin

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, drugs with lung channel tropism are thought to selectively enter the lung meridian to regulate Qi, clear heat, or resolve phlegm [3, 18]. Modern research suggests these effects may involve modulating inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6, TNF-alpha) and ion channels (e.g., ENaC, CFTR) in lung tissue [2, 9, 25].