The Differences Between Wind-Cold and Wind-Heat Colds
Nowadays, people generally know that colds can be classified as Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat, but they often cannot distinguish which is which. In fact, it is easy to differentiate between the two; most colds are Wind-Cold, while a minority are Wind-Heat.
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Differences Between Wind-Cold and Wind-Heat Colds
Wind-Cold Cold: This condition is caused by the invasion of Wind-Cold evil, leading to the failure of Lung Qi to disperse.
Wind-Heat Cold: This condition is caused by the invasion of Wind-Heat evil, resulting in the disharmony of Lung Qi.
Difference 1: Different Symptoms
Symptoms of Wind-Cold Cold: Severe chills, mild fever, no sweating, headache and body aches, nasal congestion with clear discharge, cough with thin white phlegm, no thirst or preference for hot drinks, and a thin white tongue coating.
Symptoms of Wind-Heat Cold: Severe fever, slight aversion to wind, headache with a feeling of fullness, sweating, red and swollen sore throat, cough with thick or yellow phlegm, nasal congestion with yellow discharge, thirst with a preference for cold drinks, red tip and edges of the tongue, and a thin white tongue coating with slight yellow.
Difference 2: Fever Characteristics
Wind-Cold Cold: Due to the invasion of Wind-Cold evil, which is a Yin evil, its nature is to congeal and close off, thus restraining the body’s Yang Qi, resulting in a milder fever and a greater sensitivity to cold; also, due to the closure of pores, there is no sweating. Wind-Heat Cold: Because it is caused by the invasion of Wind-Heat rather than Wind-Cold, it primarily presents with fever, with a lesser degree of aversion to cold, or merely a fear of wind; since Wind-Heat is a Yang evil, it steams the muscle surface, leading to the loosening of the muscle layers, hence sweating occurs but does not alleviate the condition.
Difference 3: Phlegm and Nasal Discharge Characteristics
Wind-Cold Cold has phlegm that appears clear and thin, and similarly, the nasal discharge is clear and not turbid.
Wind-Heat Cold has phlegm that is turbid and thick, and the nasal discharge is also turbid and appears yellow.
Difference 4: Seasonal Occurrence
Wind-Cold Cold often occurs in cold seasons, such as winter, late autumn, and early spring, as it is caused by the invasion of cold evil. Wind-Heat Cold often occurs in warmer seasons, such as spring, early summer, and early autumn, as it is caused by the invasion of Wind-Heat evil.
Difference 5: Causes
Wind-Cold Cold: The cause is usually due to fatigue, lack of rest, combined with exposure to wind or cold. If Wind-Cold Cold is not treated in time or treated incorrectly, it can lead to internal evil causing constipation or diarrhea; in fact, diarrhea following a Wind-Cold Cold is considered a transformation in TCM, as the disease enters from the outside, so one should not casually use anti-diarrheal medications. Wind-Heat Cold: The cause is usually constipation; typically, after two days of constipation, a sore throat may develop for a day or two, followed by cold symptoms, which is Wind-Heat Cold (it can also be due to external heat evil first attacking the lungs). The lungs and large intestine are interrelated, and poor bowel movements can affect the lungs, leading to cold symptoms.
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How to Determine if You Have Wind-Heat or Wind-Cold Cold?
Nasal Congestion: Wind-Cold Cold: Nasal congestion with a heavy sound, sneezing, often with clear nasal discharge; Wind-Heat Cold: Nasal congestion with thick nasal discharge, if the heat is severe, yellow and thick discharge may occur. Cough: Wind-Cold Cold: Often presents with a scratchy throat, cough, and more phlegm that is clear and thin; Wind-Heat Cold: Wind-Heat attacks the lungs, leading to the loss of lung clarity, and the turbid fluids are cooked by Wind-Heat, resulting in a cough with thick yellow phlegm.
Presence of Sweating: Wind-Cold Cold: A cold without sweating, accompanied by a mild fever; Wind-Heat Cold: A cold with sweating, generally with a higher fever. Thirst: Wind-Cold Cold: Since cold evil is inherently Yin, it does not easily consume the body’s Yin fluids, thus those with Wind-Cold Cold often do not exhibit dry mouth or thirst, preferring hot drinks; Wind-Heat Cold: Wind-Heat is a Yang evil, which easily injures Yin fluids, thus those with Wind-Heat Cold often experience red and swollen sore throats, frequent dry mouth and thirst, and prefer cold drinks. Headache: Wind-Cold Cold: The cold evil stagnates, and due to the cold evil binding the surface, the body’s Yang Qi cannot disperse, thus often presenting with headaches and body aches, commonly felt in the head and neck, and often accompanied by discomfort in the joints and bones.
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TCM Treatment Principles
Wind-Cold Cold:
Treatment principle: Release the exterior with warm acrid herbs and disperse cold from the lungs;
Common ginger soup is very suitable for Wind-Cold Cold. Fresh ginger is acrid and warm, capable of dilating blood vessels, accelerating blood circulation, and expelling cold from the body. The specific method is to take 2-3 slices of fresh ginger, cut two sections of green onion into small pieces, and boil them in water to drink.
For those without appetite, do not just rely on plain congee; you can try Fang Feng (Siler) congee. Fang Feng, as a medicinal herb, has the effects of dispersing and releasing the exterior, relieving dampness and pain, and expelling wind and relieving spasms, which can also help expel cold from the body and alleviate cold symptoms. The method is to decoct Fang Feng with green onion, strain the juice, and add it to the cooked glutinous rice congee, stirring until the congee boils.
Wind-Heat Cold:
Treatment principle: Use acrid-cool herbs to release the exterior, clear heat, and detoxify;
In terms of diet, one can eat more cooling and fire-reducing foods, such as winter melon, cucumber, white radish, and yam. A green bean and bamboo leaf porridge is also suitable, prepared by washing an appropriate amount of glutinous rice, green beans, lotus leaves, and bamboo leaves, along with honeysuckle and rock sugar. First, wash the lotus leaves and bamboo leaves, decoct to extract the juice, then rinse the green beans and glutinous rice, soak them in cold water, and boil them in a pot. After boiling, add the honeysuckle, lotus leaf juice, and bamboo leaf juice, and cook until done, then add rock sugar to serve.
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