Can children drink ginger soup when they have a cold?

Whether a child with a common cold can drink ginger soup generally depends on the type of cold. If it's a cold caused by wind-cold, drinking ginger soup is usually acceptable. However, if it's a cold due to wind-heat, consuming ginger soup is not recommended. If symptoms persist, timely medical consultation is advised. Detailed explanations are as follows:

If the child suffers from a wind-cold type of cold, symptoms typically include chills, headache, clear nasal discharge, sneezing, and a thin white tongue coating. In such cases, moderate consumption of ginger soup can be beneficial. Ginger is warm in nature and has functions including relieving cold symptoms, warming the middle jiao to stop vomiting, and warming the lungs to relieve coughing. Drinking ginger soup may help the child dispel cold pathogens and alleviate cold symptoms. When preparing ginger soup, slices of ginger can be boiled in water. According to the child's taste preference, an appropriate amount of brown sugar can also be added, as it has warming and blood-nourishing effects that can enhance the efficacy of the ginger soup.

If the child suffers from a wind-heat type of cold, symptoms typically include significant fever, sore throat, yellow nasal discharge, and a thin yellow tongue coating, then drinking ginger soup is not recommended. The warming nature of ginger soup might exacerbate internal heat pathogens, worsening the symptoms of the cold.

In addition to drinking ginger soup, children should also receive active hydration therapy during a cold to prevent dehydration. Drinking pear juice or consuming liquid or semi-liquid foods can help replenish fluids.