Is cold with yellow phlegm caused by a wind-cold cold or a heat cold?

Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
Updated on December 30, 2024
00:00
00:00

Cold with yellow phlegm is generally classified as a wind-heat cold in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Colds are categorized based on the different pathogenic factors involved: wind-cold colds and wind-heat colds. A wind-cold cold is primarily caused by exposure to pathogenic wind-cold, characterized mainly by coughing up white phlegm, feeling chilly but not hot, and a reluctance to drink water. On the other hand, a wind-heat cold follows exposure to external wind-heat pathogens. Its symptoms include feeling hot instead of cold, coughing, yellow phlegm, yellow nasal discharge, sweating, irritability, and constipation. Therefore, the presence of yellow phlegm typically indicates a wind-heat cold. There are many medicinal treatments for wind-heat colds, particularly those that clear heat and detoxify the body, all of which can be used to treat a wind-heat cold.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
1min 6sec home-news-image

How to treat a cold during pregnancy

If you have symptoms of a cold while pregnant, it is advised not to self-medicate blindly. Always consult a physician and use medications that are relatively safer to treat the condition so as to prevent any potential impact on the fetus. This is particularly important during the first three months of pregnancy when the baby's development is still not complete, and indiscriminate use of some medications could possibly cause developmental abnormalities in the baby. It is suggested that everyone should distinguish the type of cold they are experiencing, and then treat and alleviate symptoms through dietary therapy. For instance, for a cold caused by exposure to wind and chill, one might drink some brown sugar ginger tea or have a warm foot bath, both of which can expel the cold from the body, promote blood circulation, and relieve cold symptoms. If it's a cold caused by wind-heat, drinking herbal teas that clear heat and detoxify can be beneficial in alleviating the condition.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
1min 21sec home-news-image

What is the difference between viral cold and wind-heat cold?

The distinction between viral influenza and wind-heat cold is mainly the different naming conventions used by two different medical systems for the common cold. Viral influenza is a term used in modern medicine to describe a viral infection. In contrast, wind-heat cold is a term used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for a type of cold that occurs after being affected by a pathogenic heat. These two terms are completely different. The pathogen of viral influenza is primarily caused by a viral infection. On the other hand, wind-heat cold is diagnosed based on symptoms, suggesting that the individual might have been affected by pathogenic heat, or has internal heat, leading to the condition. Therefore, generally, viral influenza is not treated with traditional Chinese medicine. Wind-heat cold, conversely, is not treated with Western medicine. So, if diagnosed with viral influenza, one would typically take some antiviral medications along with Western cold medicines. If diagnosed with wind-heat cold by a TCM practitioner, some appropriate heat-clearing and detoxifying Chinese medicines would be prescribed. These represent two distinct medical systems with their unique diagnostic labels for the illness.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
45sec home-news-image

Can I eat oranges when I have a cold and cough?

People with a cold and cough can eat oranges. This fruit is rich in vitamin C, which can promote the repair of tissue mucosa and is beneficial for recovery from illnesses. Additionally, it can also provide some cough relief. Therefore, it's fine to eat oranges when you have a cold and cough, as generally, there are no special contraindications with most fruits. Fruits like apples, bananas, tomatoes, tangerines, pineapples, and dragon fruits are also edible. It is mainly important to avoid overly greasy and spicy foods, refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol, drink plenty of water, ensure good indoor air circulation, and maintain suitable indoor temperature and humidity to help recover from a cold and cough.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
1min 35sec home-news-image

How to determine if it is food stagnation or a cold?

The common cold is characterized by symptoms such as fever, chills, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, headache, and body aches. It is an externally contracted disease that can occur throughout the year but is most common in the winter and spring seasons, and when there is a sudden change in the climate. Overeating mainly results from dietary imbalances, leading to symptoms like loss of appetite, indigestion, bloating or pain in the stomach area, frequent belching, sour regurgitation, or vomiting, and having foul-smelling or irregular stools. This is more common in infants and toddlers, typically occurring after binge eating. Symptoms can suddenly include abdominal bloating, vomiting, or changes in the frequency and nature of bowel movements, without the general signs of an upper respiratory tract infection. If the issue is overeating, the baby may feel relief after passing stools or vomiting; however, if it is a cold, symptoms might include gastrointestinal issues like vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea, usually accompanied by mild fever and respiratory symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, or coughing. If vomiting or diarrhea occurs, the symptoms generally do not alleviate, and the baby would still feel very uncomfortable. Therefore, whether it is overeating or a cold can be determined by analyzing the specific conditions of the child.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
43sec home-news-image

Can you catch a cold during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a normal physiological state for women to nurture a fetus. During pregnancy, factors such as a decrease in immunity, catching a cold, or malnutrition can lead to viral infections, causing symptoms of a cold. Whether a pregnant woman catches a cold mainly depends on her physical constitution, that is, her immune and resistance capacities. Pregnant women with a cold should avoid the indiscriminate and excessive use of medications, especially antibiotics, antiviral drugs, and hormonal products. It is important to drink plenty of water, rest adequately, and if medication is necessary, it should be chosen under the guidance of a doctor. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)