Wind-cold invades the body,
causing the hair to stand on end,
the skin to close and generate heat.
— Su Wen: On the True Organs of the Jade Machine
Is Wind-Cold = Cold?
Wind is the chief of all diseases, the main cause of illness from external pathogens, easily combining with other evils. In different seasons, it combines with seasonal qi to harm the body, presenting different syndromes. For example, in the cold seasons of autumn and winter, or when the air conditioning is too low in summer, wind and cold combine, leading to an external invasion of wind-cold syndrome. The cold nature constricts and stagnates, easily blocking the skin and hair, causing the evil to accumulate in the lung defense, impairing the lung’s ability to disperse and descend, and the defensive yang’s ability to warm, resulting in a series of clinical symptoms.
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In TCM diagnosis, wind-cold is a type of cold, characterized by severe aversion to cold, mild fever, headache, absence of sweating, clear nasal discharge, thin white phlegm, no thirst, thin white tongue coating, and a floating or tight pulse.
Treatment of Wind-Cold
Wind-Cold Binding the Exterior
(1) Symptoms: Severe aversion to cold, mild fever, absence of sweating, headache, aching limbs and joints, nasal congestion with a heavy voice, or itchy nose with sneezing, occasional clear nasal discharge, itchy throat, cough with thin white phlegm, no thirst or preference for warm drinks, pale red tongue with thin white and moist coating, floating or tight pulse.
(2) Treatment principle: Expel Wind and Scatter Cold to Release the Exterior.
Wind-Cold Attacking the Lung
(1) Symptoms: Cough, itchy throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, frequent sneezing, aversion to wind, cough with thin white phlegm, no thirst, headache, absence of sweating, pale red tongue with white coating, floating or tight pulse.
(2) Treatment principle: Expel Wind and Scatter Cold, Disperse the Lung and Stop Cough.
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Can Ban Lan Gen Treat Wind-Cold?
Ban Lan Gen (Isatis Root) cannot treat wind-cold colds. After a wind-cold cold, it is necessary to use aromatic and dispersing herbs. Ban Lan Gen does not have the function of releasing the exterior; it is a heat-clearing and detoxifying herb, suitable for wind-heat colds or for wind-cold colds that have lasted too long, transforming into heat and toxins causing sore throat.
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Dietary Therapy for Wind-Cold Type Cold
Ginger Sugar Drink
[Ingredients] 10g fresh ginger, appropriate amount of brown sugar. [Preparation] First wash and slice the fresh ginger, place it in a porcelain cup or thermos, pour in boiling water, cover, and steep for 5 minutes, then add brown sugar to dissolve.
[Dosage] Drink while hot, cover with a blanket after drinking. If sweating is not smooth, it can be taken again after one hour. Li Shizhen’s Compendium of Materia Medica states that fresh ginger “when used raw disperses, and when cooked harmonizes the middle.” This indicates that fresh ginger has the effect of inducing sweating and releasing the exterior, warming the middle and stopping vomiting. Adding brown sugar not only enhances the flavor but also, due to its warm nature, can assist ginger in inducing sweating and warming the stomach.
Scallion White Porridge
[Ingredients] 7 scallion whites, 60g japonica rice. [Preparation] First cook the japonica rice with water to make porridge, and when the porridge is nearly done, add the scallion whites and boil for a minute or two. [Dosage] Drink while hot, cover with a blanket to induce sweating. Scallion whites disperse wind-cold and harmonize the stomach. The Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica states it can “treat cold and heat, induce sweating, stroke, and facial swelling.” This indicates its strong dispersing power, and when cooked with japonica rice, it can promote sweating while harmonizing the stomach qi, allowing for sweating without harming the righteous qi.
Two Roots Soup
[Ingredients] 3 roots of napa cabbage, 7 roots of scallion, appropriate amount of brown sugar.
[Preparation] First wash and slice the napa cabbage roots and scallion roots, add an appropriate amount of water, and boil for 10 minutes, then add brown sugar to dissolve. [Dosage] Drink while hot, cover with a blanket to induce sweating. Napa cabbage, also known as Brassica pekinensis, is said in the Compendium of Materia Medica to be able to promote digestion, relieve chest discomfort, quench thirst, and treat food stagnation and heat cough. Adding scallion and brown sugar warms and induces sweating. This formula is particularly suitable for those with external wind-cold accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms.
Ginger Sugar Perilla Leaf Drink
[Ingredients] 3g fresh ginger, 3g perilla leaves, appropriate amount of brown sugar. [Preparation] First wash the fresh ginger and slice it finely, then place it with perilla leaves and brown sugar in a porcelain cup, pour in boiling water, cover, and steep for 10 minutes. [Dosage] Drink while hot, cover with a blanket to induce sweating. Perilla leaves disperse wind-cold and harmonize the stomach, stopping vomiting, making it particularly suitable for wind-cold exterior syndrome with chest tightness and vomiting symptoms. This formula, enhanced with ginger and brown sugar, increases its ability to dispel cold and harmonize the stomach, effectively treating chest discomfort caused by cold.
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Wind-cold colds can be completely prevented. First, pay attention to appropriate physical exercise to enhance physical fitness. Second, in any season, if the weather turns cold, timely add clothing to stay warm. Third, during flu outbreaks, avoid contact with sick individuals, as the gathering of evils can easily harm the righteous qi, hence the need to avoid evils.
For friends with severe wind-cold, please visit a traditional Chinese medicine hospital promptly to prevent complications!
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