How to treat a cold caused by exposure to cold?

Written by Qiu Xin Hui
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Updated on January 17, 2025
00:00
00:00

In traditional Chinese medicine, the common cold due to exposure to cold, also known as "wind-cold cold," is primarily caused by a decrease in the body's resistance, leading to the invasion of wind and cold. If the wind-cold is not expelled in time, symptoms such as nasal congestion, clear nasal discharge, sneezing, headache, and chills may arise. At this point, consuming warm and heating foods can help dispel the wind and cold, and relieve the body surface. One can drink ginger brown sugar water, as ginger effectively warms the middle, dispels cold, and expels wind, while brown sugar can enhance the body's resistance. Drinking it while it's hot causes the body to slightly heat up and sweat, which can quickly alleviate the symptoms of the cold due to exposure. (Please consult a professional physician before using any medication, and do not self-medicate.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
30sec home-news-image

Symptoms of childhood cold and encephalitis

Some common symptoms of encephalitis secondary to a cold in children primarily include fever, usually moderate to high, though some may exhibit low fever. Next, symptoms such as headache, dizziness, primarily around the forehead, crown, or occipital region, may occur. This is followed by vomiting, which is generally more evident after eating or drinking, with some exhibiting persistent vomiting. Additionally, some may experience lethargy, weakness, or even seizures.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
1min 2sec home-news-image

How to measure temperature for a baby with a cold

Children catching a cold is a common occurrence, often accompanied by varying degrees of fever. Accurate temperature measurement is crucial for timely treatment with specialized medications. The most frequently and accurately measured temperature is the rectal temperature, as it is closest to the core body temperature. This measurement typically uses a mercury thermometer and takes about three minutes. If a mercury thermometer is not available, an infrared thermometer can also be used to measure the baby's ear temperature. Ear temperature also closely approximates the core body temperature. However, during measurement, it is essential to straighten the ear canal as much as possible to keep it in a straight line for accurate results. If it is not possible to measure the rectal or ear temperature, then measuring the forehead temperature is an alternative. However, the temperature on the forehead is generally about 0.5℃ lower than the rectal or ear temperature. This measurement is more affected by various factors and has a larger margin of error, which needs special attention.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Ying
Gastroenterology
36sec home-news-image

Symptoms of a stomach cold

The most common symptom of gastroenteritis is vomiting. The presence of pathogens irritates the stomach, causing it to contract and expel its contents. Secondly, diarrhea is a common symptom, primarily due to irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, which significantly increases secretions and affects absorption functions, leading to faster intestinal movements and resulting in loose stools. Thirdly, the increased intestinal movements can also lead to abdominal pain, along with the diarrhea.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
38sec home-news-image

Can I eat lamb when I have a cold?

When you have a cold, you should not eat mutton as it is considered a "hot" food, which can aggravate the condition and lead to secondary infections. This type of food is considered an unfavorable stimulus for recovery from a cold. In terms of diet, it is advisable to eat lighter, softer foods rich in vitamins and high in fiber, such as fruits and vegetables. You should consume more celery, spinach, mung bean sprouts, tomatoes, carrots, avocados, dragon fruit, mangoes, and kiwis. Also, drink plenty of water, avoid staying up late, and avoid excessive stress.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Guo Xiao Yun
Pulmonology
1min 1sec home-news-image

What are the differences between a hot cold and a cold cold?

The difference between a hot cold and a cold cold mainly lies in the causes and symptoms. If a cold is mainly caused by the invasion of wind-heat evil into the body, it is clinically characterized by yellow urine, coughing up purulent sputum accompanied by high fever, headache, and sore throat discomfort. On the other hand, a cold cold is primarily caused by the invasion of wind-cold evil into the body, and it is clinically characterized by white, thin sputum, and symptoms such as chills, cold limbs, dizziness, and fatigue. Whether it is a hot cold or a cold cold, from the perspective of Western medicine, most are caused by viral infections. Therefore, taking some anti-cold medication or some traditional Chinese medicines can improve symptoms and shorten the duration of the illness.