Featured Expert
Expert Introduction
Dr. Zhong Junhui, Deputy Chief Physician of the Classical Chinese Medicine Department at Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, has over 20 years of clinical teaching and research experience in emergency medicine, respiratory and digestive internal medicine. He has long focused on the precise differentiation and treatment of common lung diseases, spleen and stomach disorders, emotional disorders, gynecological issues, and body conditioning.
Consultation Hours
All day Friday
Some people catch a cold and recover without medication in 7 days
But some people take a lot of medicine and still do not improve
Even their condition worsens over time
The reason for this phenomenon
May be due to confusing wind-cold and wind-heat colds
Taking the wrong medicine!
#1 How to Distinguish Between Wind-Cold and Wind-Heat?
Generally, TCM classifies colds into two types based on the “cold” and “heat” nature:
Wind-Cold Cold: Typical symptoms include aversion to cold, nasal congestion with clear discharge, sneezing, coughing with thin white phlegm, and no thirst.
Wind-Heat Cold: Main symptoms include sore throat, dry mouth and thirst, coughing with phlegm, yellow and thick phlegm, nasal congestion with yellow discharge, slight fever or sweating.
In fact, the main distinguishing points between wind-cold and wind-heat colds are two: whether there is thirst and whether there is throat pain.
Wind-heat colds often present with thirst and throat pain, while wind-cold colds do not have these two symptoms.
▼ How to Differentiate Cold and Heat in Colds?
#2 How to Choose the Right Medicine?
The vast majority of people will go to the pharmacy to buy some Chinese patent medicine when they catch a cold, but if they do not differentiate between cold and heat and take medicine indiscriminately, it may worsen their condition.
Wind-Cold Cold should primarily use warming and dispersing methods, commonly using Ma Huang (Ephedra), Jing Jie (Schizonepeta), and Fang Feng (Siler) as dispersing cold herbs. Chinese patent medicines can include Ganmao Qingre Chongji (Cold Relief Powder), Jing Fang Heji (Jing Fang Combination), and Jing Fang Granules, etc.
Ginger Sugar Drink Recipe: 10g of fresh ginger, 15g of brown sugar; slice the ginger, brew with boiling water, cover for about 5 minutes, then add brown sugar.
Wind-Heat Cold should primarily use cooling and dispersing methods. Commonly used herbs include Chrysanthemum, Mint, and Mulberry Leaves. Chinese patent medicines can include Xiao Chai Hu Granules, Sang Ju Ganmao Pian (Mulberry and Chrysanthemum Cold Tablets), and Ban Lan Gen Chongji (Isatis Root Powder), etc.
If there is significant fever and obvious throat swelling, one can also take Shuang Huang Lian Oral Liquid and Qing Re Jie Du Oral Liquid. These medicines have good heat-clearing and detoxifying effects.
#3 Little Secrets for Preventing and Treating Colds
Orange Peel Water — Dries dampness and transforms phlegm, useful for itchy throat and coughing with phlegm.
Ginger Brown Sugar Water — Ginger disperses pathogens, brown sugar warms the middle and disperses cold, useful for wind-cold colds.
Ge Gen Water — Induces sweating and releases the exterior, alleviating pain, mainly useful for wind-cold colds.
Ge Gen Water Preparation: Take an appropriate amount of Ge Gen (Pueraria) slices, brew with boiling water for 3-5 minutes before drinking. The leftover Ge Gen slices can also be chewed.
In addition to the little secrets for preventing and treating colds, there are also some popular “folk methods” for cold prevention:
Keeping Ankles Warm Reduces Colds — According to TCM, the upper body is Yang and the lower body is Yin, with the head having the most Yang energy.
If one keeps their ankles warm, the body will have more Yang energy circulating to resist external pathogens, making it less likely to catch a cold.
Do Not Eat Eggs After Catching a Cold — Because when the body is ill, it mobilizes its Qi and blood to fight off pathogens, one should avoid high-protein foods, including eggs, to prevent burdening the spleen and stomach.
Some acupressure points in TCM can also play a role in preventing and treating colds:
Zu San Li (ST36) — Enhances the body’s resistance, expels pathogens, and prevents Qi deficiency colds.
Ying Xiang (LI20) — Massaging the Ying Xiang point beside the nostrils can help open the nasal passages.
Tai Yang (EX-HN5) — Massaging the Tai Yang point, Yin Tang, and certain areas of the forehead can relieve headaches.
Da Zhui (DU14) — Located just below the prominent bone at the back of the neck, massaging this point can help reduce fever.
Bladder Meridian — Scraping or cupping along the bladder meridian on both sides of the spine can expel pathogens and treat colds.
▼ Is Orange Peel a Good Remedy for Colds?
Can colds enhance a person’s resistance?
Does eating hot pot help prevent colds?
More exciting Q&A in the program!
Stay tuned tonight at 18:13 on Channel 18
“Famous TCM Doctors in the Community”
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Teaching you to differentiate between cold and heat in colds!
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Source: Health is the Key
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