What Are the Symptoms and Treatment Options for Wind-Cold Illness?

Common Cold due to Wind Chill is a frequent occurrence in daily life. It is typically caused by exposure to cold, leading to symptoms such as runny nose, joint pain, cough, and chills with fever. Generally, the treatment for this condition is relatively straightforward, involving the oral administration of medications that clear heat and detoxify, and disperse wind-heat, which can lead to recovery. It is also important to rest adequately during this period.

Etiology and Symptoms

Wind Chill is a term used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to describe a pathogenic influence combining wind and cold. When the body is exposed to Wind Chill, clinical manifestations may include severe chills, mild fever, headache, body pain, nasal congestion and rhinorrhea, cough, thin white tongue coating, and a floating and tight pulse.

Treatment

The primary treatment approach is to dispel wind and dispel cold. This can be achieved through the internal administration of traditional Chinese medicine or non-pharmacological methods, which often yield significant results. For example, in cases of Wind Chill affecting the exterior, symptoms may include mild fever, severe chills, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, frequent sneezing, throat irritation, headache, generalized body aches, aversion to wind, a pale red tongue with a thin white coating, and a floating and tight pulse. If Wind Chill invades the lungs, additional symptoms such as cough, aversion to wind, nasal congestion and rhinorrhea, and throat discomfort may be observed.

Prevention

To prevent Common Cold due to Wind Chill:

1. During seasons with a high incidence of colds, it is important to maintain proper hygiene, adjust to temperature changes, engage in appropriate exercise to enhance immunity, and minimize exposure to crowded public places to avoid infection. Additionally, consuming fruits rich in vitamin C, such as oranges and kiwi, can help prevent colds.
2. During colder seasons, soaking feet in hot water for about 20 minutes before bedtime can help warm the body, improve blood circulation, and enhance resistance to illness.
3. When initially exposed to exterior Wind Chill, ginger and brown sugar soup can be consumed while hot. This is prepared by boiling ginger and scallion roots, filtering out the residue, adding brown sugar, and consuming it while warm. Alternatively, a bowl of plain rice porridge with chopped scallion whites and a small amount of shredded ginger can be eaten while hot, along with drinking plenty of warm water. It is best to sweat slightly to help dispel wind, cold, and resolve exterior symptoms. Rest is crucial during this period, and the diet should be light, easy to digest, and avoid greasy and heavy foods such as chicken and duck.
4. If someone in the household or workplace has a cold, it is advisable to maintain good ventilation in the room. Additionally, 10-20 milliliters of vinegar can be heated and used for fumigation in the room to disinfect the air and prevent infection.