What are Cold and Flu?
A cold is called the “common cold” for a reason: one in three Americans suffers from a seasonal cold at least once a year. Typical symptoms of a cold include a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, chills, stiff neck, headaches, and a general sense of malaise. Though many people get colds repeatedly throughout their life, it can mutate into the flu, which is a more intense version of a cold and also may lead to a fever, sore throat, cough, diarrhea, body aches, and vomiting. Children and elderly people typically get colds more frequently than average-aged adults. There are ways to avoid the pathogens that instigate the affliction.
How can I treat Cold and Flu?
Traditional Chinese medicine considers the common cold to originate from what are known as “wind” pathogens, which can either be “wind cold,” often the result of exposure to drafts, or “wind heat,” distinguished from wind cold through its manifestation as a high fever, sore throat, and other inflammatory symptoms.
Traditional Chinese medicine suggests warming the body for wind cold through foods that disperse the pathogens, such as ginger, garlic, and scallions, and cooling the body from wind heat through fresh fruits and vegetables, mint, and dandelion. Other remedies for wind cold include gargling salt water, taking hot baths with Epsom salts to induce sweat, and drinking tea of lemon, cayenne pepper, and honey. Other remedies for wind heat include drinking the juice of cabbage, dandelion, cucumber, and oranges, as well as drinking the tea of mint leaves and chrysanthemum flowers throughout the day. For both wind cold and wind heat, it is best to enjoy rest and calm instead of excessive physical activity.
What should I avoid in my lifestyle for Cold and Flu?
It is important to avoid overeating for both wind cold and wind heat, as well as greasy foods, meats, shellfish, and astringent foods such as vinegar. Other things to avoid are alcohol, smoking, and caffeine.
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