When it comes to respiratory issues, whether in yourself or your horse, it’s easy to focus solely on mucus, coughing, or congestion. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a different approach: often, the mucus isn’t the problem; it’s a signal of underlying imbalances in the body.
Excess mucus and inflammation in the airways are frequently tied to a Spleen and Stomach imbalance. These organs are responsible for breaking down food and liquids, absorbing nutrients, and distributing them throughout the body. When the Spleen and Stomach are weak, the body struggles to properly metabolize what’s consumed. Fluids and nutrients can become stagnant in the digestive system, leading to bloating, poor appetite, or loose stools.
Here’s where the “trickle effect” comes into play:
Fluids Build Up – Stagnant fluids aren’t processed efficiently and begin to accumulate. Eventually, these excess fluids migrate upward to the lungs and obstruct the airways. In TCM, the Lungs rely on smooth energy (Qi) flow to disperse fluids throughout the body. When dampness blocks this energy, the Lungs struggle to function properly, leading to weak breathing, congestion and airway obstruction.
Energy Flow Gets Blocked – Dampness in the system doesn’t just affect the Lungs. It can interfere with sweating, create heat imbalances, and make the body’s internal environment more prone to inflammation. Over time, the constant obstruction can weaken the Lungs’ ability to inhale fully and efficiently.
Kidneys Overcompensate – The Kidneys play a vital role in regulating internal temperature and supporting the body’s exhalation processes. When dampness and heat build up, the Kidneys are forced to work overtime, which can further weaken breathing and lead to fatigue or poor recovery.
What appears as a respiratory issue is often rooted in the digestive system. Supporting the Spleen and Stomach to efficiently transform and move fluids can relieve the Lungs, restore healthy breathing, and rebalance the entire system.
This is where diet comes in and is most important. Consuming heavy, big meals, processed foods, and inflammatory ingredients weakens the digestive organs as this puts them into overdrive and unable to break down and absorb. Eating foods that are grown in nature and easy for our bodies to digest is the first step in prevention or healing.
This is where respiratory supplements fall short; they focus on eliminating mucus and relieving congestion, but don't address what's actually causing them.
Keeping your digestive system strong with formulas like Redemption or Relentless, eating warm, cooked, natural foods, and avoiding dairy or cold drinks can help prevent mucus buildup.
When dealing with mucus, our recommendations are to start by addressing the diet, adding in what gastrointestinal formula fits you or your horse best, and pairing that with Repel for mucus and heavy breathing, or Respire for congestion and allergies. All 3 can be paired together temporarily for severe cases.
The takeaway? Mucus is not the enemy; it’s your body telling you where support is needed. By targeting the root cause rather than just the symptom, you allow the body to restore itself naturally.
Support healthy digestion, move fluids, and restore energy flow. That’s how you help the Lungs do their job, reduce inflammation, and improve overall respiratory resilience.
Shop the links below for any of the Equine or Human formulas you may be interested in from this blog.
Equine Redemption
Equine Relentless
Equine Repel
Equine Respire
Human Redemption
Human Relentless
Human Repel
Human Respire
