In Chinese Medicine, colds aren’t just caused by a virus. It’s seen as an imbalance in the body that’s triggered by external factors, like the weather or your environment. These external factors, such as Wind, Cold, Heat, and Dampness, can invade the body when your natural defenses are weak.
When your body’s energy (called Wei Qi) is strong, it can protect you from these outside influences. But if your Wei Qi is low, you’re more likely to catch a cold.
In TCM, there are different types of colds depending on what’s causing the imbalance. Here are the most common types:
1. Wind-Cold Invasion
This is the most common presentation of a cold, especially during colder months. In this case, Cold enters the body through the skin, and Wind (often seen as a ‘carrier’ of the pathogen) disrupts the body’s energy flow. Symptoms associated with a Wind-Cold invasion often include:
- Chills (feeling cold and sensitive to drafts)
- A clear, runny nose (with watery mucus)
- A scratchy throat or cough
- General body aches and muscle tension (especially in the neck and shoulders)
- Lack of sweating, even though the body feels cold
- Fatigue or feeling “run down”
In TCM, Cold is seen as constricting, which means it slows down circulation and affects the body’s ability to expel pathogens, making the body feel stagnant and heavy. This is why many people experience muscle stiffness and congestion when they catch a cold.
At-Home Remedies for Wind-Cold:
- Warm Liquids: Drink warming teas made from ginger, cinnamon, and peppermint. These herbs help to expel cold from the body and promote sweating.
- Hot Foot Soak: Soaking your feet in hot water with mustard powder or ginger powder can stimulate circulation, warm your body, and help release the cold. This is especially effective before bed.
- Warming Foods: Opt for soups and stews made with chicken, garlic, and onion. These foods help nourish your body and promote warmth. Adding a pinch of black pepper or turmeric can further aid circulation.
- Dress Warmly: Keep your neck and lower back covered to prevent the wind from invading your body. Wear warm clothes, and use a scarf to protect your neck.
2. Wind-Heat Invasion
When the body is exposed to Heat (often from environmental factors, stress, or overexertion), a Wind-Heat condition may develop. This type of cold is typically associated with more intense symptoms, such as:
- Fever or a feeling of warmth in the body
- Throat redness and swelling, often accompanied by pain
- Yellow or green mucus (which is thicker and more sticky)
- Coughing, often dry or producing thick phlegm
- Headaches and a feeling of pressure in the sinuses
- Irritability or a feeling of being “hot” in the body
Wind-Heat is more likely to lead to inflammation, which is why the throat feels sore and the body becomes flushed. In this case, Heat exacerbates the body’s discomfort by creating excess, fiery energy that overwhelms the system, leading to irritability and sometimes difficulty sleeping.
At-Home Remedies for Wind-Heat:
- Cooling Teas: Drink teas made from mint, chrysanthemum, and lemongrass. These herbs help clear heat from the body and soothe a sore throat.
- Honey and Lemon: A warm drink made with honey, lemon, and a pinch of salt helps soothe the throat and clears heat. Honey has antimicrobial properties, and lemon provides vitamin C for immune support.
- Cold Compress: Apply a cool, damp cloth to your forehead to reduce fever and calm your body. This helps bring down excess heat and gives you relief from the discomfort.
- Cooling Foods: Include more watermelon, cucumber, and leafy greens in your diet. These foods help clear heat and hydrate the body. Avoid spicy or greasy foods that might aggravate the heat in your body.
3. Wind-Damp Invasion
In some cases, especially in humid climates or when the body is exposed to damp or rainy conditions, Dampness can combine with Wind to create a different type of cold. This can manifest as:
- A heavy, foggy feeling in the head or chest
- A slow, sluggish cough with thick mucus
- A sense of fullness in the chest or stomach
- Swelling or puffiness, particularly in the limbs or joints
Dampness tends to weigh the body down and can interfere with the body’s ability to expel the pathogen, making it feel tired and sluggish.
At-Home Remedies for Wind-Damp:
- Ginger and Lemon Tea: Ginger helps move dampness and warms the body, while lemon helps clear excess moisture. Drink this combination throughout the day to promote circulation and expel dampness.
- Moxibustion: If you have access to moxa (a traditional herb often used in TCM), you can use it over the bladder and stomach meridians to warm the body and expel dampness. Moxibustion helps clear stagnant energy and moisture, supporting the body’s ability to heal.
- Bone Broth: Eating nourishing, warming bone broths with ginger and garlic can help expel dampness from your body. Bone broth is rich in minerals and supports immune function while also helping to dry up excess mucus.
- Epsom Salt Bath: An Epsom salt bath with a few drops of eucalyptus oil helps promote circulation, relieve muscle aches, and reduce the feeling of heaviness in the body. Add a cup of salt and relax for 20 minutes.
How TCM Addresses the Root Cause of a Cold
Rather than just focusing on suppressing symptoms, TCM seeks to restore balance in the body by addressing the root cause of the cold—whether it is caused by Wind, Cold, Heat, or Dampness. A practitioner will take into account the specific symptoms you’re experiencing and tailor a treatment plan to:
- Expel the pathogen: By using acupuncture to promote circulation and immune function, herbs that can help release the pathogen, and cupping therapy to clear congestion.
- Reinforce the body’s defenses: Strengthening your Wei Qi (the body’s protective energy) through lifestyle adjustments, herbal formulas like Yu Ping Feng San, and acupuncture to build up your immune system.
- Restore balance: A TCM practitioner will also focus on restoring balance to your body’s internal energy, helping you recover more fully and prevent the cold from reoccurring.
A cold isn’t just an inconvenience—it signals that your body is out of balance and responding to external pathogens that need clearing. By treating the root cause instead of just masking symptoms, TCM supports your body’s natural healing process, restores balance, and helps keep you healthy and vibrant.
