Recently, snowflakes have begun to fall in the north, and the south is also facing a drop in temperature. With climate changes, people are more prone to illness, with the common cold being the most frequent.
The common cold is an external pathogenic disease caused by the invasion of wind evil into the body, clinically characterized by symptoms such as headache, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, cough, chills, fever, and general malaise, commonly referred to as “wind injury.” The typical duration of the illness is 3 to 7 days. Wind evil often invades according to the seasons: in spring, it is mostly wind-heat; in summer, it is often accompanied by heat and dampness; in autumn, it is often combined with dryness; and in winter, it is mostly wind-cold. Individuals with a weak constitution are more susceptible to wind-cold evil. This illness can occur in all seasons, particularly more frequently in winter and spring.
Based on clinical manifestations, colds can be primarily classified into four types of syndromes: Wind-Cold Attacking the Exterior (wind-cold cold), Wind-Heat Invading the Exterior (wind-heat cold), Summer-Dampness Injuring the Exterior (summer-damp cold), and Qi Deficiency with External Pathogenic Attack (qi deficiency cold). Today, we will mainly introduce wind-cold and wind-heat colds.
How to Distinguish Between Wind-Cold and Wind-Heat in Colds?
01 Ask About Chills and Fever to Differentiate Pathogenic Factors
Clinically, we ask patients about chills and fever to differentiate between wind-cold and wind-heat. If chills are severe, requiring thick clothing and heavy blankets, and fever is mild, or if chills are predominant with relatively high fever, it generally indicates wind-cold;
whereas if fever is severe and chills are mild, with high fever above 39-40 degrees Celsius, and the patient is not afraid of cold but only afraid of wind (aversion to wind), it generally indicates wind-heat.
02 Ask About Headache to Differentiate Cold and Heat
Headaches that are concentrated in the forehead and temples, often accompanied by body aches and neck stiffness, which worsen with cold, are mostly due to wind-cold.Headaches with a heavy sensation are often due to wind-cold combined with dampness.Headaches that feel swollen with a red face, mild chills, and severe fever are mostly due to wind-heat.
03 Examine Secretions and Excretions to Differentiate Cold and Heat
Secretions include nasal mucus and phlegm; excretions include urine and stool.
Nasal congestion with clear mucus indicates wind-cold; nasal congestion with turbid or yellow mucus indicates wind-heat.
Coughing with white, thin phlegm, or foamy phlegm indicates wind-cold; coughing with white, sticky, or yellow, thick phlegm indicates wind-heat.
Clear urine indicates wind-cold; short, red, or yellow urine indicates wind-heat.
Loose stools are mostly due to wind-cold; dry or constipated stools are mostly due to wind-heat.
04 Examine the Throat to Differentiate Cold and Heat
Generally, a scratchy throat is mostly due to wind-cold.
Generally, a swollen and painful throat is mostly due to wind-heat.
05 Examine the Tongue and Pulse to Differentiate Cold and Heat
Generally, a pale red tongue with a thin white coating and a floating pulse, or a floating and tight pulse, indicates wind-cold.
Generally, a pale red or red tongue with a thin yellow coating and a floating, rapid pulse indicates wind-heat.
06 Consider the Season to Differentiate Pathogenic Factors
Wind is the primary of the six evils, often combined with cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and summer heat to invade the body and cause disease.
The seasonal weather changes are closely related to the six evils. Generally, wind-cold colds are common in winter; wind-heat colds are common in spring; summer-damp colds are common in summer; and wind-dry colds are common in autumn. This is just a general rule, but clinically, it is often very complex, and one may contract this illness outside of its typical season. Therefore, we must carefully examine and accurately differentiate syndromes in clinical practice, treating according to the identified syndrome.
Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment01Wind-Cold Cold
Syndrome Differentiation
Symptoms: Severe chills, mild fever, no sweating, headache, body aches, nasal congestion, runny clear mucus, cough with thin phlegm, or white phlegm, thin white tongue coating, floating or tight pulse.
Treatment principles include warming and releasing the exterior, dispersing cold from the lungs, using modified Ma Huang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) (麻黄, Ma Huang; 桂枝, Gui Zhi; 苏叶, Su Ye; 橘红, Ju Hong; 柴胡, Chai Hu; 桔梗, Jie Geng; 杏仁, Xing Ren; 甘草, Gan Cao); or Jing Fang Bai Du San (荆防败毒散) with modifications.
For mild wind-cold cold (severe chills without sweating, mild headache, cough with thin phlegm, nasal congestion, dry throat, thin white tongue coating, floating pulse), use modified Xing Su San (杏苏散);
For wind-cold with dampness (no significant fever, heavy head, body aches, white or greasy tongue coating, floating or soft pulse), use modified Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang (九味羌活汤);
If wind-cold has not resolved, leading to heat accumulation, or if there is a pre-existing internal heat with a subsequent wind-cold attack (symptoms include mild chills, more severe fever, no sweating, headache, body aches, nasal congestion, sore or swollen throat, dry mouth or thirst, thin yellow tongue coating, floating slippery rapid pulse), use modified Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang (柴葛解肌汤).
Selected Patent Medicines
① Wind-Cold Cold Granules
② Jing Fang Granules
③ Cold Relief Granules
④ Cold Soft Capsules
⑤ Zheng Chai Hu Drink Granules
⑥ Cold Relief Capsules
⑦ Cold Wind Dispelling Capsules
Examples of Patent Medicine Combinations
1. For severe symptoms of wind-cold cold, combine Wind-Cold Cold Granules with Cold Relief Granules. Both medicines can be taken as a “medicated tea” by extracting the juice and taking it, once in the morning and evening, and taking Wind-Cold Cold Granules once at noon.
2. For wind-cold cold with symptoms of heavy head, body aches, or chest discomfort, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, and diarrhea, combine Jing Fang Granules with Wushi Tea Granules. Both medicines can be taken as a “medicated tea” by extracting the juice and taking it, once in the morning and evening, and taking Jing Fang Granules once at noon.
3. For wind-cold cold with cough and phlegm, especially with white, thin phlegm, combine Tong Xuan Li Fei Granules with Zhi Sou Wan (止嗽丸). Use the “medicated tea” method for Tong Xuan Li Fei Granules, taking it in the morning and afternoon.
4. For severe headache due to wind-cold cold, combine Jing Fang Granules with Du Liang Wan (都梁丸). Use the “medicated tea” method for Jing Fang Granules, taking it in the morning, noon, and evening.
Medicated Tea Preparation
Formula 1: 10g of Jing Jie (荆芥), 10g of Zi Su Ye (紫苏叶), 10g of fresh ginger, 20g of brown sugar;
Formula 2: 15g of Duan Dou Chi (淡豆豉), 5 stalks of green onion (mashed), 3 slices of fresh ginger (mashed);
Formula 3: 10g of Zi Su Ye, 10g of Fang Feng (防风);
Formula 4: 10g of Jing Jie, 10g of Fang Feng;
Formula 5: 6g of Zi Su Ye, 3 slices of fresh ginger (mashed);
02Wind-Heat Cold
Syndrome Differentiation
Symptoms: Severe fever, mild aversion to wind or slight aversion to cold, headache, nasal congestion with sneezing, runny thick mucus, no sweating or sweating, sore throat, cough with thick phlegm, dry mouth and thirst, red tongue, thin yellow coating, floating rapid pulse.
Treatment principles include cooling and releasing the exterior, clearing heat and detoxifying. For mild fever and predominant cough, use modified Sang Ju Yin (桑菊饮);
for severe fever and sore throat, use modified Yin Qiao San (银翘散), and for very high fever, add gypsum and Anemarrhena;
for severe sore throat, add Xuan Shen (玄参), Ban Lan Gen (板蓝根), and Ma Bo (马勃);
for cough with yellow phlegm, add Xing Ren, Gua Lou Pi (瓜蒌皮), Huang Qin (黄芩), Zhe Bei Mu (浙贝), and Yu Xing Cao (鱼腥草);
for severe thirst, increase the use of Lu Gen (芦根) and add pollen.
Selected Patent Medicines
① Yin Qiao Detoxification Tablets
② Wind-Heat Cold Granules
③ Sang Ju Cold Granules
④ Sang Ju Yin Qiao San
⑤ Qing Kai Ling Oral Liquid
⑥ Ling Qiao Detoxification Tablets
⑦ Lian Hua Qing Wen Capsules
⑧ Shuang Huang Lian Oral Liquid
⑨ Chai Hu Oral Liquid
⑩ Chuan Xin Lian Tablets; Jin Lian Qing Re Granules; Compound Da Qing Ye Mixture; Jin Qing Cold Granules; Ling Yang Cold Tablets.
Examples of Patent Medicine Combinations
1. For severe symptoms of wind-heat cold, combine Sang Ju Yin Qiao San with Ling Qiao Detoxification Granules. Use the “medicated tea” method for Ling Qiao Detoxification Granules, taking it in the morning, noon, and evening.
2. For wind-heat cold with sore throat, combine Wind-Heat Cold Granules with Chuan Xin Lian Tablets. Use the “medicated tea” method for Wind-Heat Cold Granules, taking it in the morning, noon, and evening.
3. For wind-heat cold with severe cough, combine Sang Ju Cold Granules with Wind-Heat Cough Capsules. Use the “medicated tea” method for Sang Ju Cold Granules, taking it in the morning, noon, and evening, or combine Shuang Qing Oral Liquid with Acute Support Syrup, taking both in the morning, noon, and evening.
4. For wind-heat cold with severe thirst, combine Sang Ju Cold Granules with Cooling and Heat-Relieving Granules. Use the “medicated tea” method for both, taking them in the morning, noon, and evening.
5. For wind-heat cold with severe fever, symptoms include high fever, thirst, dry throat, sore throat, and cough with thick phlegm, combine Qing Kai Ling Oral Liquid with Shuang Huang Lian Oral Liquid. Take both in the morning and evening; take Shuang Huang Lian Oral Liquid once at noon. Alternatively, combine Jin Lian Qing Re Granules with Chai Hu Oral Liquid, using the “medicated tea” method for Jin Lian Qing Re Granules, taking it in the morning, noon, and evening; if there is high fever, take it four times a day.
6. For wind-heat cold with severe headache, combine Sang Ju Cold Granules with Qiong Ju Shang Qing Wan. Use the “medicated tea” method for Sang Ju Cold Granules, taking it in the morning and afternoon.
Medicated Tea Preparation
Formula 1: 5g of Sang Ye (桑叶), 5g of Ju Hua (菊花), 15g of Lu Gen (芦根);
Formula 2: 15g of Wild Ju Hua (野菊花), 10g of Sang Ye;
Formula 3: 6g of Bo He (薄荷), 10g of Jin Yin Hua (金银花), 10g of Lian Qiao (连翘);
Formula 4: 30g of Da Qing Ye (大青叶), 10g of Yu Xing Cao;
Formula 5: 6g of Bo He, 10g of Jin Yin Hua.
Dietary Considerations During a Cold
During a cold, the digestive enzyme activity in the patient’s stomach is affected, leading to poor appetite, and may even be accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. The consumption of vitamins in the body increases, leading to a decrease in their levels, and the consumed cannot compensate for the supplemented. Therefore, in addition to medication, cold patients should also adjust their diet appropriately to promote health.
So, what dietary adjustments should be made during a cold? What dietary therapies are available?
Dietary Dos and Don’ts
During a cold, it is advisable to eat small, frequent meals, favor light foods with less oil, and consume easily digestible foods rich in vitamins, which can meet nutritional needs and enhance appetite. It is also important to drink plenty of water, primarily plain boiled water.
Avoid eating raw and cold foods, as they can easily damage the spleen and stomach, worsening symptoms and prolonging recovery.
Avoid salty foods, as they can cause the mucous membranes in the affected areas to constrict, worsening nasal congestion and throat discomfort, and overly salty foods can easily produce phlegm, aggravating cough.
Avoid sweet and greasy foods, as sweets can generate dampness and heat, while greasy foods are hard to digest, so cold patients should avoid all kinds of candies, drinks, and fatty meats.
Avoid spicy foods, as they can injure qi and consume body fluids, generating phlegm that is difficult to expel, so cold patients should not consume them.
Avoid barbecued and fried foods, as these can irritate the respiratory and digestive tracts, leading to mucosal constriction and worsening the condition, and they are also hard to digest. Smoking and alcohol should also be avoided.
Dietary Therapies
Common dietary therapies for colds include the following, and patients can choose based on their condition.
Carrot and Water Chestnut Porridge
【Ingredients】150g of carrot, 250g of water chestnut (马蹄), 50g of rice.
【Preparation】Slice the carrot, peel and crush the water chestnut, and cook with rice to make porridge. After the porridge is ready, season with a little sugar or salt, and it is ready to eat.
【Effects】This recipe can clear heat, aid digestion, stop cough, dispel phlegm, promote urination, and relieve constipation, suitable for wind-heat colds.
Ginger and Brown Sugar Drink
【Ingredients】15g of fresh ginger (sliced), 30g of brown sugar.
【Preparation】Boil a bowl of water, add ginger, boil for 2 minutes, then add brown sugar and boil for another minute, and drink while hot. After drinking, cover yourself to induce sweating.
【Effects】This recipe disperses cold, releases the exterior, and is a commonly used folk remedy for wind-cold colds, especially effective for those with nausea and vomiting.
Huang Qin Stewed Pears
【Ingredients】15g of Huang Qin (黄芩), 2 pears, 15g of white sugar.
【Preparation】Wash and soak Huang Qin, slice it. Peel and core the pears, and cut them into small cubes. Place Huang Qin, pears, and sugar in a pot with water and stew for 30 minutes.
【Effects】This recipe clears heat, detoxifies, dries dampness, and drains fire, suitable for influenza and lung heat cough.
Pueraria and Pork Bone Soup
【Ingredients】150g of Pueraria (葛根), 30g of fresh ginger, 10g of fermented soybeans, 40g of japonica rice, 500g of pork ribs.
【Preparation】Peel and cut Pueraria into small pieces; peel and slice ginger; place pork ribs and rice in a clay pot with enough water, boil for about 40 minutes, then add Pueraria, ginger, and fermented soybeans, and stew for another 30 minutes, seasoning with salt.
【Effects】This recipe induces sweating, releases the exterior, and reduces fever, suitable for colds with fever and body aches.
【Source: This article is a comprehensive compilation from Zhongshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital (content excerpted from “Clinical Insights in Traditional Chinese Medicine”, edited by Miao Canming, Chief Physician), Yuedu TCM, and China TCM.
Further Reading:
-
My Successful Case of Treating Hair Loss
-
Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang—Stubborn Old Stomach Disease
-
[Chong Er Medical Case] Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang—Cough After Pneumonia
-
[Chong Er Medical Case] Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment for Prostate Enlargement
-
[Chong Er Medical Case] Persistent Hiccups and Weakness, Miraculous Recovery
⊙ Note:All formulas and treatments mentioned in this article are for learning reference only. Non-professionals should not self-medicate. If needed, please consult a physician for guidance. This platform does not bear any responsibility for any consequences arising from this. This article is sourced from the internet; if there is any infringement, please contact for removal.