Is the sore throat caused by a wind-heat cold or a wind-cold cold?

Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
Updated on April 28, 2025
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A simple sore throat alone cannot determine whether it is a cold caused by wind-cold or wind-heat.

If it is a wind-cold cold, the congestion in the throat is not very obvious, the mouth is not dry, and the tongue coating is somewhat white. If it is a wind-heat cold, the congestion in the throat is obvious, accompanied by redness and swelling. In adults, the main causes are pharyngitis, long-term exposure to dust, or psychological reasons. After catching a cold, it's important to rest more, avoid excessive fatigue, eat more light fruits and vegetables, avoid staying up late, and drink plenty of hot water.

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What to do when you catch a cold and cough in summer?

During summer, due to the hot weather, air conditioning is often used. If the air conditioning is set too cold, it might cause some people to catch a chill, leading to various symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and sore throat. For patients with such symptoms, the first step is to check if they have a fever and identify any other accompanying clinical symptoms. If the patient simply has a dry cough, it may be appropriate to use some heat-clearing and detoxifying traditional Chinese medicines. Then, depending on the nature of the cough, central cough suppressants should be used as symptomatic treatment. Generally, recovery can happen within a week under such treatment. In cases of a summer cold where the patient starts to produce phlegm in the later stages of coughing, it is then necessary to use some anti-inflammatory medicine for symptomatic treatment, as this may indicate a possible bacterial infection. (The use of medications should be done under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Yellow nasal discharge is what kind of cold?

Yellow nasal discharge is not a symptom of a cold. A cold, also known as an upper respiratory tract infection, typically presents with clear nasal discharge, indicating a viral infection. The appearance of yellow nasal discharge could suggest two possibilities: it could either be a symptom of sinusitis or it could indicate a secondary bacterial infection following a cold, especially in the later stages of a cold, manifesting symptoms similar to sinusitis. Therefore, yellow or yellow-purulent nasal discharge is definitively not a cold; it might be a symptom of sinusitis occurring late in the course of a cold or as the cold is resolving. In conclusion, yellow nasal discharge is not indicative of a cold.

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How to use moxibustion for wind-heat cold?

Patients with colds caused by wind-cold can choose moxibustion at the Fengchi point, located 1.5 cm lateral to the midline in the depression formed by the occipital bone and cervical spine at the back of the head. The Dazhui point is located on the neck, in the depression below the seventh cervical vertebra, and the Hegu point is located at the tiger's mouth on the back of the hand. Moxibustion uses the warmth of the moxa fire to stimulate the Dazhui, Hegu, and Fengchi points to accelerate local blood circulation, promote cell metabolism, invigorate blood to dissolve stasis, expel wind and disperse cold, accelerate the expulsion of cold from the body, regulate endocrine functions, harmonize qi and blood, improve body functions, and increase the patient's immunity. This can effectively alleviate the patient's cold symptoms caused by wind-cold. It is recommended to keep warm and rest after treatment.

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How long will the symptoms of a cold last?

The duration of cold symptoms varies depending on individual constitution and the type of cold. Generally, a common cold may take three to five days to recover, while influenza could require five to ten days. The specific duration depends on the quantity of the virus and the body's immune capacity. Both influenza and the common cold are viral infections that cause illness, and there are some differences in symptoms. However, the treatment plans are the same, focusing on symptomatic treatment, complemented by antiviral medication, with recommendations to drink plenty of water, rest, and boost metabolism.

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Is wind-cold common cold?

Wind-cold common cold is actually what is referred to as the common cold, primarily caused by exposure to cool air or catching cold. It mostly occurs in autumn and winter, and can easily lead to symptoms like a runny nose, cough, excessive phlegm, and body aches. For treatment, it is recommended to mainly use Western medicine, though Chinese medicine can also be effective. During treatment, the diet should consist mainly of warm foods, drinking more ginger sugar water or brown sugar water, which has the effect of expelling cold.