Home Remedies for the Common Cold, Chinese Medicine Style

A little knowledge and a few basic items at home can help you be prepared to nip a cold or flu in the bud, and help speed it on its way out of your body. As soon as you start feeling something coming on, that’s the time to take quick action, and make some tea. Treating it early is key for the best results.

What kind of tea? That depends on whether the bug is giving you symptoms of “cold” or “heat.”

Signs and symptoms for a “cold” natured cold include: mild headache, stiff neck, aversion to wind, mild chills, slight runny nose, and scratchy throat.

In contrast, “heat” symptoms include: feeling hot, thirsty, having a severe sore throat, irritability, a stuffy nose with thick or yellow discharge, and an aversion to heat.

Home treatment for Cold symptoms:

Make Ginger-Scallion tea:

Take 2-3 slices of ginger and the white part of 5 scallions chopped and make a tea by boiling in two cups water. Strain and add a spoonful of brown sugar.

Drink this tea, and then take a hot shower and wrap up in a warm blanket. This will induce a mild sweat, which is what you want to happen. Rest and be sure to stay cozy and not get chilled. Repeat this for a few days if you need to. This process warms you and expels the cold out of your body.

Home treatment for Heat symptoms:

In this case you want to use cooling and aromatic substances. A strong cup of peppermint tea can help. Or peppermint with chamomile. Drink this right after you make it, while the aroma is strong, to help alleviate these symptoms.

If your symptoms linger or worsen, do make an appointment, as we can help you out with stronger herbal formulas and acupuncture.