Itchy throat is a symptom of both wind-cold and wind-heat types of common cold.
Mar 18, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Introduction
Itchy throat may be caused by either wind-cold invasion or wind-heat invasion; the specific condition needs to be determined based on symptoms. Wind-cold invasion typically presents with severe chills, mild fever, and may be accompanied by throat itching and pain. Wind-heat invasion usually presents with high fever, mild aversion to wind, red and swollen throat with heat and pain, and possibly cough with thick yellow phlegm. It is recommended to seek timely TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment, and take care to protect the throat, avoiding irritation from cold or hot stimuli.
Generally speaking, the term "throat" refers to the pharynx. Whether a sore throat is caused by a cold due to external wind-cold or wind-heat pathogenic factors needs to be determined based on specific symptoms. If there are typical symptoms of chills, it may indicate a wind-cold common cold. If there are prominent symptoms of fever and mild aversion to wind, it may indicate a wind-heat common cold. If discomfort persists, timely medical attention is recommended. Detailed analysis is as follows:
Wind-cold common cold is primarily caused by external invasion of wind-cold pathogenic factors and impaired lung qi dispersion. When cold pathogens enter the throat, they may cause symptoms such as a sore throat and pharyngeal pain. However, patients typically experience severe chills, accompanied by mild fever, absence of perspiration, headache, sneezing, runny nose, generalized muscle pain, cough, and white phlegm. Prompt treatment under a physician's guidance with medications such as Wind-Cold感冒 Granules, External Wind-Cold感冒 Granules, or Jing-Fang Granules is recommended.
Wind-heat common cold is caused by invasion of wind-heat pathogenic factors affecting the exterior of the body and disharmony of lung qi. When wind pathogens enter the throat, they may also cause a sore throat, accompanied by significant fever, mild aversion to wind, headache with a feeling of fullness, and perspiration. Patients may experience redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the throat while coughing, and may even cough up thick yellow phlegm. It is recommended to promptly follow medical advice and take medications such as Yinqiao Jiedu Tablets, Xia-Sang-Ju感冒 Tablets, or Shuanghuanglian Oral Liquid.
Therefore, a sore throat could be due to either wind-heat or wind-cold common cold. It is recommended to undergo timely TCM syndrome differentiation and subsequent appropriate treatment. Additionally, it is important to protect the throat from exposure to extreme hot or cold stimuli.
