When sorrow doesn’t go away
Emotional heaviness and physical congestion can mirror one another
Welcome to our 5 part series on how each organ system is linked to specific emotional state and why addressing our emotional needs have implications for our health.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), when we talk about the organ, we are not primarily referring to the anatomical organ that Western medicine describes. We’re talking about a functional system — an energetic network of processes.Think of it less as an organ and more as a set of responsibilities in the body–mind -spirit ecosystem.
By gently addressing your hurts and emotional patterns, you may not only feel more internally supported, but may also begin to see shifts or relief in certain physical health issues as well.
How grief impacts the lungs
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the lungs are the organ most closely associated with sorrow and grief. These emotions directly influence the lung system, which governs breathing and the movement of energy through the chest. Because the lungs continuously draw energy from the air around us, they are responsible for helping sustain vitality and openness in both body and spirit. When grief is held for long periods without being processed, it can gradually weaken the lung energy.
When the lung system becomes strained or congested, the first signs often appear in the breath. Difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, or coughing can arise when the lung channel is obstructed. In TCM, this obstruction can reflect not only physical factors but also the weight of unresolved sorrow.
How grief and sorrow can place a burden on the Lungs
The relationship between grief and lung health is sometimes reflected in the lives of people who have endured profound emotional loss. For example, Dana Reeve, who devoted herself to caring for her husband Christopher Reeve after his paralyzing accident, later died of lung cancer despite being a non-smoker. Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, also a non-smoker, died from lung cancer in 2024 after experiencing the devastating loss of her 19-year-old son earlier that year. While these stories do not prove a medical cause, they illustrate the TCM perspective that deep sorrow can place a heavy burden on the lungs.
When Lungs impact the Spleen and Stomach
The lungs are also closely connected with the spleen and stomach, which are responsible for digesting food and transforming it into qi and blood. When grief lingers, it can weaken this digestive system as well. A person may experience poor appetite, difficulty assimilating nutrients, fatigue, or a sense of heaviness in the body. In TCM, this is often described as Spleen Qi deficiency, where the body struggles to transform nourishment into usable energy.
When the spleen becomes weak, internal dampness can accumulate. Over time, this dampness can transform into phlegm, which rises and obstructs the lung system that governs the chest, throat, and nose. As a result, emotional heaviness and physical congestion can mirror one another—manifesting as lethargy, lack of inspiration, or a feeling of being weighed down.
From a TCM perspective, sorrow does not only live in the mind; it’s an emotion that lives in the breath and the body. When sorrow is acknowledged and allowed to move, the lungs can regain their openness, helping restore both physical vitality and emotional lightness.
Experiment
When there’s grief and sorrow, you want to learn more about this feeling you can’t shake off.
Here’s what you can do: Listen to this song: I am not okay, Jelly Roll
Close your eyes to the outside world so that you can look/listen/feel/smell your inner world.
Place your hand on your heart to connect with your heart’s intelligence and say to yourself, “Thank you for alerting me to this feeling. Tell me more about this deep sadness I’m feeling.”
Be patient and gentle with what might emerge.
