Patient's question:
My daughter caught a cold a few days ago after PE class. She is now coughing with phlegm and has a runny nose with yellow mucus. She wants to eat oranges. I heard from the elders at home that eating oranges can cause stomach upset but is beneficial for recovery from a cold. The more she eats, the worse her cough gets. I didn't dare let her have them. Could you please tell me if it's okay to eat oranges when coughing from a cold?Doctor's answer:
The child's nasal discharge has turned yellow, indicating that the cold is half gone. Oranges can help with colds to some extent, but when the child has a cold, it's best to avoid extremely cold foods. Oranges can be boiled with hot water and eaten in small amounts. Other fruits are better not to be consumed. Your child's cold hasn't fully recovered yet, and many heat-clearing and detoxifying cold medicines and lung-purifying, blood-cooling medicines still need to be taken orally for a period of time. The child can stop taking the medicine only after two days without any coughing.