Common Cold
is an exogenous ailment with headache , nasal obstruction , aversionto wind and
fever as its main manifestations . It often results from lowered superficial
resistance and invasion of the exogenous pathogenic factors . It may occur in any
season . According to the difference in weather , pathogenic factors and body
constitution , the manifestations can be classified into two types : wind cold and
wind heat .
Etiology and Pathogenesis
This disease is often due to delicate - constitution and weakened body
resistance which makes the body inadaptable to intense changes of the
weather with abnormal cold or warmth . Then the exogenous pathogenic wind
invades the body through the pores , skin , mouth and nose , leading to
manifestations related to lung and the defensive function . Very often
pathogenic wind combined with other pathogenic factors like pathogenic cold
causes a wind cold syndrome , or with pathogenic heat causes a wind heat
syndrome . Invasion of exogenous pathogenic wind and cold may retard the
lung's dispersing function and block the pores , while invasion of exogenous
pathogenic wind and heat may impair the lung's descending function by the
evaporating heat , and lead to abnormal functioning of the pores . In
addition , since the patient's body build is different and the internal and
external causes are mutually influenced , the manifestations after invasion
by the pathogenic factors must be varied . For patients with yang deficiency ,
wind cold syndrome is mostly seen , while for those with yin deficiency , wind
heat syndrome is often found .
Differentiation
Wind cold :
Main manifestations : Chills , fever , anhidrosis , headache , soreness and
pain of the limbs , nasal obstruction , running nose , itching of the throat ,
cough , hoarse voice , profuse thin sputum , thin white tongue coating ,
superficial and tense pulse .
Analysis : Invasion of the body surface by pathogenic wind and cold
impairs the dispersing function of the lung and affects the nose , causing
nasal obstruction and discharge . Pathogenic cold is of yin nature , which is
likely to damage yang . Impairment of superficial yang is manifested by
exterior symptoms such as chills , fever , anhidrosis , headache , even soreness
and pain of the limbs . Thin white tongue coating and superficial tense pulse
are the signs showing the invasion of the lung and the superficial defensive
system by pathogenic wind and cold .
Wind heat :
Main manifestations : Fever , sweating , slight aversion to wind , pain and
distending sensation of the head , cough with yellow , thick sputum , congested
and sore throat , thirst , thin white or yellowish tongue coating , superficial
and rapid pulse .
Analysis : Pathogenic wind heat often attacks the body through the nose
and mouth . The lung is involved first . Pathogenic wind of yang nature is
characterized by upward and outward dispersion . When a fight goes on between
the pathogenic wind heat and the body resistance , fever , slight aversion to
wind and sweating result . When the pathogenic wind heat attacks the head ,
symptoms like pain and distending sensation occur in the head . In case the
lung fails in dispersing and descending , there appears cough with yellow ,
thick sputum . When the pathogenic wind heat stifles the air passage , there
is congested sore throat with thirst . Thin , white or yellowish tongue
coating , and superficial rapid pulse are the signs showing the lung and the
defensive system being attacked by the pathogenic wind heat .
Treatment
Wind cold :
Method : Reducing is applied to the points of the Du , Taiyang and Shaoyang
Meridians to eliminate wind cold and relieve exterior symptoms . Even
movement combined with moxibustion is applied to patients with weakened
constitutions .
Prescription : Fengfu ( Du 16 ) , Fengmen ( B 12 ) , Fengchi ( G 20 ) , Lieque ( L
7 ) , Hegu ( LI 4 ) .
Explanation : Fengfu ( Du 16 ) is used to relieve the exterior symptoms ,
eliminate wind and check headache . Fengmen ( B 12 ) , a point of the Taiyang
Meridian which dominates the surface of the whole body , is selected to
regulate the circulation of qi in this meridian , to eliminate wind cold and
to relieve chills and fever . As the pathogenic cold has attacked the surface
of the body , and the lung is the organ related to the skin and hair , Lieque
( L 7 ) , the Luo - ( Connecting ) point of the Lung Meridian , is used to promote
the dispersing function of the lung and to check cough . Fengchi ( G 20 ) , a
point at the intersection of the Foot Shaoyang and Yangwei Meridians , of
which the latter dominates yang and the exterior , is used to eliminate wind
cold . Since the Taiyin and Yangming Meridians are externally and internally
related , Hegu ( LI 4 ) , the Yuan - ( Primary ) point of the Yangming Meridian , is
used to eliminate the pathogenic factors and relieve the exterior symptoms .
Wind heat :
Reducing is applied to the points of the Du , Shaoyang and Yangming
Meridians to eliminate wind heat .
Prescription : Dazhui ( Du 14 ) , Quchi ( Li 11 ) , Waiguan ( SJ 5 ) , Hegu ( LI 4 ) ,
Yuji ( L 10 ) , Shaoshang ( L 11 ) .
Explanation : The Du Meridian is the sea of all the yang meridians . Dazhui
( Du 14 ) , a point where all the yang meridians meet , is used to eliminate
heat and other pathogenic factors of yang nature . Hegu ( LI 4 ) and Quchi ( LI
11 ) are the Yuan - ( Primary ) point and the He' ( Sea ) point of the Yangming
Meridian of Hand respectively . Since the Yangming and Taiyin Meridians of
Hand are externally and internally related , reducing applied to these two
points can clear lung qi and reduce heat . Yuji ( L 10 ) , the Ying - ( Spring )
point of the Lung Meridian , in combination with Shaoshang ( L 11 ) , can
eliminate heat from the lung and ease the throat . Waiguan ( SJ 5 ) , the Luo - ( Connecting )
point of the Shaoyang Meridian of Hand connecting with the Yangwei Meridian ,
can dispel pathogenic factors of yang nature in the exterior of the body and
eliminate heat .
Remarks
The above treatment can also be used for other viral and bacterial
infections of the upper respiratory tract as well as influenza . However ,
common cold should be distinguished from other infectious diseases with
similar symptoms at the early stage .
Prophylactic measures : Moxibustion is applied daily to Fengmen ( B 12 ) or
Zusanii ( S 36 ) to prevent common cold during its prevalence .
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