Summer colds: hot compress or cold compress?

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on May 02, 2025
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Summer is a time when the weather is relatively hot, which often leads to heat-induced colds. Patients with this condition may experience varying degrees of fever. When the body temperature exceeds 38.5°C, local cold compresses are advisable, especially in areas like the armpits and groin.

If the patient also experiences varying degrees of chills at this time, alcohol rub baths can be used for timely and effective fever reduction. Therefore, cold compresses are usually the method of choice for patients with summer colds, especially for infants and young children with high fever-induced convulsions. Applying cold compresses to the head can be more effective in reducing the temperature.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Is a cold in the summer always a wind-heat cold?

Colds are also common in summer, and typically, conditions like wind-heat colds are more frequent during this season. However, not all summer colds are wind-heat colds; some patients may catch a cold due to prolonged exposure to air conditioning or getting caught in the rain, both of which can lead to colds in the summer. For such colds, they are generally more likely to be cold in nature, so not all summer cold patients necessarily have wind-heat colds. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis should be conducted based on each patient's specific circumstances. For a typical summer cold, if it is a wind-heat cold, the patient usually experiences fever, headaches, nasal congestion, and runny nose, with the discharge often being yellow. They also experience sore throat and cough, usually coughing up yellow phlegm, which is commonly considered in clinical practice to be due to wind-heat cold.

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Is a cold contagious?

Typhoid fever is an acute intestinal infectious disease caused by Salmonella typhi, which is contagious. Therefore, it is essential to maintain protection at all times. The symptoms of typhoid fever often include high fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, so timely treatment is necessary. Effective treatment can be achieved by taking medication. During treatment, it is also important to avoid consuming irritating, greasy, and raw or cold foods. It is recommended to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and to drink more water and urinate frequently to help improve symptoms.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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How to control some signs of a cold?

To control early signs of a cold, first and foremost pay attention to adjusting your lifestyle and diet. Avoid staying up late and overworking, opt for bland, soft, and easily digestible foods, abstain from smoking and alcohol, and avoid eating meat. Consume more fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamins, ensure sufficient and good quality sleep, and drink more ginger sugar water or scallion white broth. These can warm the body and disperse cold, aiding in the recovery from a cold. Additionally, measure your temperature twice daily to check for any signs of fever, and treat the symptoms accordingly.

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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What to eat for a cold or flu

Patients with colds should always pay attention to keeping warm and not catching cold, so as not to worsen the condition. Usually, they can take some cold medicines, which can clear heat and detoxify. If the condition is severe, it is recommended to take medication under the guidance of a doctor. Normally, drinking more water and urinating frequently can effectively expel some viruses from the body through urine, alleviating the symptoms of a cold. In terms of diet, eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, such as apples, bananas, and green vegetables, can effectively improve symptoms. Also, spending more time in the sun can help increase the body's immunity.

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Is scraping effective for colds caused by heat?

Scraping therapy can also be very effective for treating colds associated with heat symptoms, as it primarily stimulates acupoints to help reduce internal heat, achieving effective regulation and improvement. It is also important to pay attention to diet, avoiding foods that are too heating to effectively prevent exacerbating the condition. Scraping therapy mainly adjusts the body by stimulating acupoints, and can significantly improve conditions by scraping acupoints like Kidney Shu and Lung Shu. It is best to avoid alcohol and overly heating foods in your diet.