2. The Lungs and Leukemia

2. The Lungs and Leukemia

(1) The Lungs as the Gateway for Pathogenic Factors to Enter the Body

The "Plain Questions · On the Six Sections of the Zang-Fu Organs" states: "The lungs are the root of qi," while the "Plain Questions · On the Great Principles of Yin-Yang Correspondence" notes: "The lungs govern the skin and hair, and they also govern the nose." When lung qi is deficient, the foundation becomes unstable and the extremities are not secure, allowing pathogenic factors to enter the body through the nose or the skin surface. Hence Ye Tianshi's assertion: "Warm pathogens attack the upper part of the body first, primarily affecting the lungs." Both the external causation theory of leukemia and the infectious symptoms seen during the disease are closely related to the lungs.

(2) The Lungs Have Regulatory Functions

The "Plain Questions · On the Secret Canon of Spiritual Guidance" states: "The lungs are the ministerial officials who regulate and oversee all the zang-fu organs," while the "Spiritual Pivot · On the Nine Needles" describes the lungs as "the canopy over the five zang and six fu organs," indicating that the lungs bear the responsibility of governing, supervising, and regulating all the zang-fu organs, making them indispensable for maintaining their normal functions. Since bone marrow is generated by the kidneys, its hematopoietic function must be closely linked to the regulatory role of the lungs.

(3) The Lung Metal Element Can Generate Kidney Water

The lungs belong to the metal element, while the kidneys belong to the water element, and metal and water mutually generate each other. The "Plain Questions · On the Great Principles of Yin-Yang Correspondence" also mentions: "The lungs generate the kidneys," which conveys the same meaning. If lung qi is insufficient, metal and water cannot mutually generate, potentially leading to secondary kidney diseases, and consequently, the bone marrow governed by the kidneys may also become diseased.