When you already have a full blown early case of the cold or flu, the Chinese believe that since the pathogen is already within the confines of the body, the best thing to do is to open the pores and promote sweating in order to expel the pathogen out of the body. As a result, it is not good to take astragalus or Jade Windscreen Formula while you actually have a cold or the flu. The Chinese believe that an herb such as astragalus, which has a function of closing the pores and reducing sweating, could prolong a cold or flu if you take it while you are sick. In order to open the pores and promote sweating, it is best to take ginger or cinnamon tea, or the Chinese patent formula, Gan Mao Ling. Have hot soups, and take warm baths with three drops of eucalyptus, lemon, or tea tree essential oil. All of these things can help you to sweat your cold out. These remedies are useful when you are feeling stiff and achy, and have a stuffy or runny nose and watery eyes with clear phlegm.
Hopefully, by taking the preceding advice you will be able to prevent your cold from progressing or from occurring at all. If your cold does progress to the point of having headache, fever, sore throat, and cough with sticky yellow or green phlegm, a different strategy is necessary. All of these symptoms indicate an infection or an inflammatory response from the body. Mint tea with lemon and honey can be soothing for the cough and the sore throat. The patent formula, Yin Qiao San, which has Forsythia and Honeysuckle in it, can help with these symptoms. Yin Qiao San is also useful for allergy and hayfever symptoms with red itchy eyes and a scratchy throat. The patent formula, Gan Mao Ling, is still useful because it is thought to be anti-viral and anti-bacterial. Gargling with warm, salt water can help with a sore throat. Warm baths with 3 drops of eucalyptus, lemon, or tea tree oil are also still useful because these essential oils are also considered to be anti-viral and anti-bacterial. Of course, if symptoms get severe, it is important to see your doctor.
As you can see, the progression to a case of the common cold or the flu is a multi-stage process. The sooner you work on preventing the problem and strengthening your body's resistance the better. In the fall, when the days are getting shorter and chillier, it is important to boost the strength of your body and increase your resistance to illness throughout the season. Of course, if you do get a full blown case of cold or flu, there are still many gentle and safe traditional chinese remedies that can address your condition.
