Cold Symptoms and Their Classification, as well as the Food Therapy and Precautions for Damp-heat Cold

There are many types of colds, such as viral colds and damp-heat colds. The symptoms of colds are generally similar. Some people may experience fever, thirst, constant nasal discharge, coughing, and other symptoms, which are indicative of a cold. Some people believe that these are symptoms of damp-heat cold, but they are not sure. So, what are the symptoms of damp-heat cold? Let's take a look.

I. Symptoms of Damp-heat Cold

Damp-heat cold is generally manifested as body heat, slight aversion to wind, soreness or pain in the limbs, dizziness, coughing with sticky mucus, thick and turbid nasal discharge, irritability and thirst, but not wanting to drink much, or accompanied by loose stool, short and dark urine, and yellow and greasy tongue coating.

II. Food Therapy

Coix seed, with a sweet taste and cold nature, is especially good at dispelling heat and removing dampness, and is a very suitable ingredient to consume during this period. Therefore, our food therapy should mainly focus on it. Red bean, with a sweet and sour taste and neutral nature, is also good at promoting urination and removing dampness, relieving swelling and detoxifying, and has a very good effect on edema, diarrhea, and other conditions. Cooking coix seed and red bean in equal parts into porridge can not only treat colds, but also has a very good regulating effect on symptoms such as dizziness, body heaviness, lethargy, and excessive sweating that occur in people who have not contracted a cold during this period.

During this period, everyone should pay attention to not consume too much alcohol, jujubes, and greasy foods, as these may easily promote the formation of damp-heat and interact with external pathogenic factors in the natural environment, making it easier to contract a cold. At the same time, people who have already contracted a cold should not easily rely on drinking more water as a treatment method, as the body's dampness is already heavy at this time, and drinking more water will only burden the spleen, which is not only ineffective but also harmful. If symptoms such as "water retention" are caused by this, medical treatment is required.

III. Precautions

Damp-heat cold patients should not drink too much water. Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol and greasy foods, as these may easily promote the formation of damp-heat and interact with external pathogenic factors in the natural environment, making it easier to contract a cold. At the same time, people who have already contracted a cold should not easily rely on drinking more water as a treatment method, as the body's dampness is already heavy at this time, and drinking more water will only burden the spleen, which is not only ineffective but also harmful. Cooking coix seed and red bean in equal parts into porridge can not only treat colds, but also has a very good regulating effect on symptoms such as dizziness, body heaviness, lethargy, and excessive sweating that occur in people who have not contracted a cold during this period.