The hospital diagnosed it as a cold, but it is actually an internal injury.
Previously, I mentioned that fever does not necessarily indicate a cold, but many symptoms are indeed identical to those of a cold. If one does not conduct a thorough examination and carefully differentiate the syndrome, it is very easy to make a mistake.
On October 5, 2019, a 65-year-old male patient sought treatment. The patient was slightly overweight and reported a low-grade fever, sensitivity to wind and cold, general weakness, severe headache, dry throat, and body aches. He occasionally coughed and experienced excessive sweating. His urination and bowel movements were generally normal. He had little appetite and some abdominal distension. This condition had persisted for more than half a month, and he had been seeing doctors during the holiday. When he first felt the headache, he went to the hospital for examination and was told it was a viral cold. After five days of injections, he did not improve and felt even worse, with increased weakness. He then sought treatment from a TCM practitioner, who diagnosed him with a pattern of Wind-Cold Deficiency, likely based on his symptoms of sensitivity to wind and cold, and sweating. However, the TCM practitioner at that hospital did not take his pulse, and I suspect that if they had, they could have made a more accurate diagnosis. After taking Chinese medicine for over a week, there was still no improvement. The autumn in Guangzhou is still quite dry, and the temperature is not low. If judged superficially, there should not be any damp-cold. However, there are always exceptions; this autumn, I encountered many patients suffering from illnesses due to dampness.
The patient’s tongue coating was thin, white, and slippery, and the tongue body was pale. The pulse was slow and weak, with a deep, small, and weak heart pulse, a deep, thin, and wiry liver pulse, a deep, small, and very weak kidney pulse, a slippery and weak lung pulse, a thin and rough spleen pulse, and a deep, small, and weak life pulse. I diagnosed it as internal injury due to damp-cold. I prescribed three doses: Ma Huang (Ephedra), Gan Cao (Licorice), Fu Zi (Aconite), and Jiao San Xian (Fried Three Immortals), among others. I advised him to keep warm and avoid air conditioning and fans. After taking the medicine, he should avoid wind and cold, allowing his body to gradually sweat lightly.
On October 6, 2019, he told me that after taking one dose, he felt some improvement. I instructed him to combine the other two doses, effectively doubling the dosage.
Two days ago, he returned for a follow-up visit and reported on his condition after taking the medicine. After doubling the dosage and taking it three times, he experienced prolonged light sweating each time and felt much more relaxed. He had a good night’s sleep and upon waking the next day, he felt that all discomfort had disappeared, although his appetite was still poor, and he felt some abdominal distension with slightly loose stools. I prescribed him the Fu Zi Li Zhong Wan (Aconite to Regulate the Middle Pill). I advised him to take it for one to two weeks, and to stop if he experienced any signs of heat.
In my clinical practice, I have found that many patients, as soon as they feel one or more symptoms similar to a cold, self-diagnose it as a cold and buy cold medicine to take. However, in nine out of ten cases, it is ineffective. Even if it is indeed a cold, the differentiation of syndromes is very complex and difficult to distinguish, and the treatment methods and medications are completely different. Moreover, having cold symptoms does not necessarily mean it is a cold. Western medicine treats colds with anti-inflammatory medications, and while they know that anti-inflammatories cannot cure a cold, they may help reduce fever. Therefore, I suggest that patients with cold symptoms should seek a trusted TCM practitioner for syndrome differentiation and prescription, and inquire about the nature of their illness and the treatment methods. A true TCM practitioner will provide this information.
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