Cold, Flu, or COVID-19?

Winter can bring on cold symptoms due to the harsh, cold air. Dr. Shu Rong, a UK-based senior practitioner in traditional Chinese medicine, explains the difference between COVID-19 The seasonal flu, and how “colds” Chinese medicine explains how to treat them and prevent them from getting worse.

How to distinguish between COVID-19, the Flu and the Flu

Shu believes that symptoms of COVID-19 and flu are very similar. COVID-19 can cause people to lose their senses of taste. The incubation period for COVID-19 is 2-14 business days, which is much longer than the 1-4 day for flu.

COVID-19 symptoms are also more severe and fatal than flu.

Shu claims that COVID-19 causes people to lose their senses of taste. Its incubation time is 2-14 days which is more than the 1-4 days required for the flu. (Health 1+1)

Shu believes that symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are very closely related. (Health 1+1)

Different Classifications of Colds in TCM

According to Western medicine, the common cold can be caused by many viruses, including rhinoviruses. The flu, however, is caused by three types of influenza viruses. Similar symptoms can also be caused by bacteria.

TCM believes that many diseases are caused by the forces of our environment. These six forces are known as the six external pathogenic factors, which can be categorized as cold, heat dryness, dampness and heat. 

The classification of in TCM is “colds” This is not the case in Western medicine. TCM distinguishes between two types of colds based on the symptoms: anemofrigid, which is wind-cold cold, and anemopyretic, which is wind-heat cold.

Viral colds usually have symptoms such as being unable to withstand the cold, sneezing, and joint pain—which are the anemofrigid cold (wind-cold) cold, meaning caused by wind and cold. Bacterial colds are characterized by symptoms such as thick nasal mucus, purulent phlegm, and slow symptom development—which are symptoms of an antipyretic (wind-heat cold—literally meaning caused by wind and heat).

It is not a perfect answer. There are many types of bacteria and viruses, so the body’s responses can be different.

Shu stressed that it was important to first identify the symptoms. Otherwise, the wrong medication could make the condition worse. People should not use TCM to detoxify and remove heat from their bodies. Otherwise, their yang energy could be damaged.

Before treating common colds, it is important to distinguish between them

Shu explained that antipyretic cold (wind-heat cold) is mostly caused by wind and heat hitting the body’s surface or wind and cold becoming heat in the body. You may experience severe symptoms such as a sore throat, yellow sputum and yellow viscous nasal mucus.

He said that such cold symptoms can be treated with TCM Banlangen or Shuanghuanglian, Yinqiao tablet, or herbal remedies that clear heat and detoxify.

Common causes of an anemofrigid cough are a body-cold and a common cause is a cold.  A cold can cause symptoms such as fever, chills and cough, thin white mucus, nasal congestion, runny nostrils, runny nose, dry throat, headaches, body aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and more common in children than in adults.

You can make soup with ginger, coriander and scallion to get rid of the coldness.

Health 1+1 was informed by Dr. Shu that anemopyretic and anemofrigid illnesses must be distinguished.

Recipes for Healing Soup

Scallion Soup Recipe

Ingredients: Cut  5 scallions (with roots) into thin slices. Only use the white parts of the Scallions.

Method:

• Boil 300ml (0.65 pints), of water
• Add the scallions
• Cook for approximately two minutes
• Turn off the heat
• Take out the scallions, and then drink the liquid hot.

Signs: When people feel a mild case of common cold symptoms such as a headache, muscle pain, or cold soreness, it is called the “early stage” of the illness.

Directions: Once you have finished the soup, you can go to bed and cover your body with a blanket. To speed up your healing, you need to sweat. Drink three times per day until you feel better. Hot porridge can be eaten if you don’t sweat.

Notice: A fever is a condition where you feel ill. Drinking the scallion soup should be stopped. Instead, you should drink more water.

Scallion Soup Recipe (Healthy 1+1)

Ginger Soup (tea) Recipe

Ingredients: Ginger and 5 jujubes.

Method:

• You can wash 20 grams (0.7 ounces), but don’t peel it. The ginger skin can absorb the chill and wind.
• Cut the ginger into thin slices
• Five jujubes (split), plus a suitable amount of brown Sugar
• Heat 250 ml (10.5 pints) water in a saucepan.
• Reduce the heat to low and let the water boil for 15 minutes.
• The soup is ready to serve. Scallion Soup has the exact same directions and notes.

Ginger Soup Recipe (Healthy 1+1)

Shu said ginger soup or ginger tea (ginger tea), is great for treating Anemofrigid symptoms (wind-cold). It’s best to have it in the morning.

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