With Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) present,
one can feel at ease and unafraid.
Whether it is herbal decoctions, patent medicines, dietary therapy, or external treatments such as moxibustion, gua sha, hot compresses, foot baths, or tuina, everyone has made full use of TCM during this pandemic, allowing many TCM enthusiasts to resolve their health issues without enduring prolonged pain.
In TCM, the key is to differentiate syndromes. This differentiation must fundamentally grasp the major direction of cold and heat; if the major direction is wrong, then using the wrong medicine can harm the body and even prolong the illness.
Currently, there are various TCM treatments or care methods for COVID-19 circulating online. Before using any of them, it is essential to first differentiate between cold and heat. The same strain of virus entering the body can manifest completely different symptoms in individuals with different constitutions, so one must not blindly follow others’ treatment methods but rather return to the fundamental differentiation in TCM, which is the root; do not overlook this.
Let’s briefly understand the characteristics of cold and heat:
Characteristics of Cold
1. Cold has a constricting nature; when cold disrupts the body, it causes the qi mechanism to contract and the pores to close. In simple terms, the pores are tightly closed, and the body does not sweat.
2. Cold has a coagulating characteristic; imagine how water freezes in winter. Cold evil can obstruct qi and blood, leading to pain due to blockage.
3. Cold in the body can greatly harm yang qi; when yang qi is insufficient, we feel cold and prefer warm water. It is particularly important to note that some people who feel cold may also experience a scratchy or sore throat and mistakenly believe that their throat pain is due to heat, immediately using various heat-clearing patent medicines, complicating the issue.
4. Clear nasal discharge, a white tongue coating, a pale tongue body, fear of cold, lack of sweating, preference for warm water, overall fatigue, clear and frequent urination, loose stools, and coughing with white phlegm are all characteristics of cold. It is especially important to note that cold can also lead to fever; not all fevers are due to heat.
Do not use heat-clearing medicines.
When encountering symptoms primarily of cold, do not blindly use various heat-clearing and detoxifying patent medicines, such as Lianhua Qingwen capsules, Yinqiao Jiedu tablets, or Banlangen granules.
Care Considerations
1. Avoid fruits.
When caring for conditions primarily of cold, it is particularly important to avoid eating fruits, and even cooked fruits are not recommended.
This is because cold particularly likes to conspire with dampness; fruits can easily promote dampness, which can significantly consume yang qi in the body. Eating fruits at this time, even if cooked, does not nourish the body; we should not complicate matters for our bodies.
2. Thirst.
If experiencing thirst, one can drink warm rice soup to help the body quickly generate fluids and quench thirst.
Do not drink excessive amounts of water; drink according to what feels comfortable for your body. Trust your own feelings; the body is the wisest.
3. Muscle aches and fatigue.
If experiencing overall muscle aches or fatigue, one can heat coarse salt and add some mugwort (ai ye) to apply a hot compress to the lower back or painful areas. If a coarse salt bag is not available, a hot water bottle can be used for hot compresses, or a boiled egg can be used for hot compressing, but remember not to eat the egg after hot compressing.
4. Nasal congestion.
One can massage the Yingxiang (迎香) and Bitong (鼻通) acupoints, or use a hot egg to compress around the nose and the Yintang (印堂) acupoint. For those who can perform moxibustion, they can appropriately moxibust the Yintang (印堂) acupoint (if there is a mixture of cold and heat, be cautious with moxibustion). Boil some ginger and scallion porridge to help release the exterior and open the nasal passages.
Characteristics of Heat
1. Heat is a yang evil; the characteristic of fire is to rise. Symptoms in the upper part of the body are common, such as sore throat, toothache, and red, swollen eyes.
2. Heat evil injures body fluids, leading to dry mouth, dry skin, dry stools, and short, yellow urine.
3. Heat evil can disturb the spirit, causing irritability and restlessness; in severe cases, some may even speak nonsensically.
4. Fear of heat, red tongue body, yellow tongue coating, yellow phlegm, severe throat pain, restlessness, hot breath, and preference for cold drinks are all manifestations of heat syndrome.
Only when encountering such heat syndromes can heat-clearing medicines or dietary therapy be used.
However, it is particularly important to choose heat-clearing medicines based on constitution and physical condition.
If the heat syndrome is relatively weak, not a strong heat, or if the person usually has a cold constitution, choose milder heat-clearing medicines; avoid using strong cold medicines immediately, as they may harm yang qi and hinder recovery.
Care Considerations
1. Do not drink excessive amounts of water.
Water needs to be transformed in the body, so drink small sips slowly for better absorption. The amount of water should be based on what feels comfortable for the body. Always remember the principle of moderation; comfort is key.
2. Do not use ice cream for pain relief.
For severe throat pain, some may feel relief from eating ice cream, but from a TCM perspective, this hidden harm is greater. Cold foods can greatly consume yang qi, especially harming spleen yang, which is the source of qi and blood production. If the spleen and stomach are harmed, qi and blood will be insufficient, and recovery will be slower.
3. Moderate gua sha or bloodletting.
Gua sha and acupuncture point bloodletting are good methods for dispelling heat and can be used moderately. Gua sha is particularly safe for home care in heat syndromes, such as gua sha on the Shizhe (尺泽), Kongzui (孔最), Feishu (肺腧), and Da Zhui (大椎) acupoints. After gua sha, be careful not to expose oneself to the wind or take a shower.
4. Do not blindly use moxibustion.
For home care, moxibustion is more effective for cold syndromes, as it can warm yang, dispel cold, and open the meridians. If heat syndromes are treated with moxibustion, many people may not handle it well, which can harm body fluids and exacerbate the condition. Therefore, ordinary TCM enthusiasts should avoid moxibustion for heat syndromes.
5. Do not blindly soak feet.
When encountering heat syndromes, do not blindly use warm herbs like mugwort (ai ye) or ginger for foot baths.
Some People Have Mixed Cold and Heat
Some individuals experience a mixed state of cold and heat; both cold and heat care or medication need to be considered. When ill, if possible, consult a TCM practitioner online, and follow their advice for medication for better results and faster recovery!
Preventive Formulas Also Require Differentiation
Many TCM institutions and health organizations have launched various health and preventive formulas. When taking them, it is essential to first differentiate your body’s constitution regarding cold and heat to avoid counterproductive effects.
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