What will happen if you take medicine for wind-heat cold when you have a wind-cold cold?

Written by Zhang Ying Ying
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Updated on March 24, 2025
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The treatment principle for colds caused by wind-cold is to use pungent and warm herbs to expel the pathogen through sweating and to disperse wind-cold. The medications for wind-heat colds mainly focus on using pungent and cooling herbs to expel the pathogen, and the treatment principles for the two are completely opposite. If medications for wind-heat cold are taken for a wind-cold cold, it might lead to a worsening of the trapped cold, causing mild fever, more severe headache, and body aches, along with nasal congestion and a runny nose with clear discharge. At this point, it is necessary to stop using the medication for wind-heat colds and switch to medications for wind-cold colds, or, if the condition is severe, seek a face-to-face consultation with a doctor.

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Can you eat watermelon when you have a cold?

A cold, also commonly referred to as an upper respiratory tract infection, can generally be categorized into cold-natured and heat-natured types. If it occurs in winter, it is usually a cold-natured cold, and patients with this type are generally not recommended to eat watermelon. On the other hand, a heat-natured cold in summer typically presents symptoms such as runny nose, nasal congestion, fever, headache, sore throat, coughing, and even coughing up yellow phlegm. Patients with such symptoms can eat watermelon, as it can not only hydrate the body but also cool it down and provide some essential nutrients, making it suitable for patients with a heat-natured cold.

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How does a cold caused by wind-cold transform into a cold caused by wind-heat?

During a cold, wind-cold and wind-heat colds can transform into each other. The intertwining of cold and heat is common. Generally, in the treatment of a cold, whether it is a wind-cold or wind-heat, treatment should be symptomatic. As long as you take cold medicine that targets various symptoms, it can alleviate the symptoms. Normally, pay more attention to rest, eat more light fruits, and vegetables, do not overwork, do not stay up late, keep regular meals, and pay attention to adjusting your mindset.

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How many days until one can eat after a stomach flu?

Patients with gastrointestinal colds can continue to eat if they are able to do so without skipping meals. Therefore, it is not necessary to wait until the cold is over before eating. Additionally, consuming nutritious foods can aid significantly in the recovery from a gastrointestinal cold. It is advisable to eat soft, easily digestible foods, such as vegetable soup, noodle soup, and rice soup. Increase vegetable intake and stay hydrated. Avoid raw, cold, and spicy, irritating foods. It is important to rest and actively use medication for treatment.

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How many days will it take for a cold headache to get better?

Headache is a common symptom of the cold, which generally eases within three to four days. If a cold is accompanied by headaches, it is often considered severe. Symptoms like fever, headache, body aches, and fatigue may indicate a viral infection. It is advised to take antiviral medications under a doctor's guidance, along with medications for the cold to treat and alleviate these symptoms. Additionally, if the headache is severe, it's advisable to take some pain relief medication to ease the symptoms. Drinking plenty of water to promote excretion and boosting the immune system are also recommended. Moreover, maintaining a cheerful mood, keeping warm, avoiding exposure to cold, engaging in moderate exercise to enhance physical constitution, and avoiding strenuous activities which may lower resistance and exacerbate the cold are important. Therefore, it is suggested to engage in soothing exercises, avoid staying up late, and ensure adequate sleep to strengthen the body's defenses.

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What to do if a baby catches a cold?

When a child catches a cold, it's important to consider their specific symptoms. If the cold lasts no more than three days and the child is in good spirits, you can treat them with anti-viral and heat-clearing Chinese patent medicines. Their diet should be light and easy to digest, and include plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits. If the baby is exclusively breastfed and under six months old, the mother should ensure a balanced diet, consume easily digestible foods, and avoid overly greasy or spicy foods. If the child's cold persists for more than three days and symptoms like cough with phlegm appear, it's necessary to bring the child to the hospital for timely tests, such as a complete blood count and C-reactive protein, to rule out bacterial infections and provide appropriate treatment based on the child's condition. For infants with a cold, considering their underdeveloped organ functions and weaker immunity, even a common cold can easily lead to secondary viral or bacterial infections, potentially causing severe diseases like pneumonia. Therefore, it's best to take the child to the pediatric outpatient clinic for assessment and targeted treatment. If it’s inconvenient to visit a doctor, consider that most colds are caused by viruses, such as respiratory or enteroviruses. Therefore, you might treat the child at home with antiviral Chinese patent medicines and symptom-specific supportive treatments. It's also crucial to manage their diet well, as digestive functions can be compromised during a cold. Thus, meals should be small and frequent, and it's advisable to avoid hard-to-digest and potentially allergenic foods to prevent exacerbating symptoms. (The use of medication should be under the guidance of a doctor.)