Patient's question:
Alright, appetite is average, deep sleep can be, bowel movements are normal, symptoms occurred 10 days ago, initial runny nose, then nasal congestion, runny nose, cough. Previous treatment and effectiveness: Taking 999 Children's Cold Medicine now, also taking Headbang and Lung Moistening Cough Suppressant. What kind of assistance is desired: How to distinguish between wind-heat and wind-cold cough...Doctor's answer:
The common cold is caused by the external invasion of wind-cold pathogens, leading to the obstruction of lung qi and impaired ventilation. The symptoms are characterized by: severe aversion to cold, mild fever, absence of sweating, headache, body pain, nasal congestion with clear rhinorrhea, coughing with thin white sputum, lack of thirst or thirst for warm drinks, and thin white tongue coating. For miscellaneous diseases, the foundation should be based on acrid and warm exterior-relieving herbs. Commonly used herbs include Ephedra, Schizonepeta, Saposhnikoviae Radix, Perilla Leaf, etc. Representative formulas include Scallion and Millet Rice Decoction and Schizonepeta and Saposhnikoviae Decoction. Over-the-counter medications can include Fever Clearing Granules, Bupleurum Decoction, Fever Soft Capsules, Ligusticum and Tea Decoction, and Promoting Lung Qi and Dispelling Wind Pills, etc. After taking the medicine, it is recommended to drink some warm porridge or soup to induce slight sweating, which helps the medicine expel wind-cold. For wind-cold fever, a folk remedy can be used: 5 sections of scallion, 9 grams of cooked soybeans, 3 slices of ginger, decocted in water and taken once daily; or 30 grams of ginger and 30 grams of brown sugar, decocted and taken in three doses daily.Medical Advice: Wind-heat cold is caused by wind-heat pathogens invading the exterior, leading to the obstruction of lung qi. The symptoms are characterized by: severe fever, slight aversion to wind, stuffy head pain, presence of sweating, red and swollen sore throat, coughing with sticky or yellow sputum, nasal congestion with yellow rhinorrhea, thirst with preference for drinking, red tip and sides of the tongue, and thin white or slightly yellow tongue coating. For miscellaneous diseases, the foundation should be based on acrid and cool exterior-relieving herbs. Commonly used herbs include Chrysanthemum, Mint, and Mulberry Leaf, etc. Representative formulas include Platycodon and Forsythia Decoction and Mulberry and Chrysanthemum Decoction. Over-the-counter medications can include Platycodon and Forsythia Pills, Lonicera and Forsythia Pills, Mulberry and Chrysanthemum Fever Tablets, and Isatis Root Granules, etc. If the fever is severe and the sore throat is prominent, additional medications such as Double Huanglian Oral Liquid or Heat-Clearing and Detoxifying Oral Liquid can be taken. These medications have good heat-clearing and detoxifying effects. For wind-heat cold, it is advisable to drink plenty of water and maintain a light diet, such as drinking radish soup or pear soup. A folk remedy for wind-heat cold can be used: 3 grams of mint, 30 grams of reed root, 15 grams of isatis root, and 6 grams of licorice, decocted once daily; or 10 grams of bamboo leaves, 3 grams of mint, 9 grams of apricot kernel, and 9 grams of forsythia, decocted once daily.