What should one eat to relieve a cough caused by cold body constitution?

Sep 02, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
In general cases, cold-type cough can be alleviated by consuming foods such as ginger, scallion whites, lamb, walnuts, longan, etc. Additionally, under a doctor's guidance, patients may take oral medications such as Tongxuan Lipai Pills, Fenghan Ganmao Granules, Xiaoqinglong Mixture, Guilong Kechuanning Capsules, or Xingsu Zhike Syrup. Individuals suffering from cold-type cough should pay attention to keeping warm in daily life, avoid catching a chill, drink more warm water to moisturize the respiratory tract, and avoid cold and raw foods in their diet.

Generally, cough caused by cold body constitution can be relieved by consuming foods such as ginger, scallion whites, lamb, walnuts, longan, etc. Additionally, under a doctor's guidance, oral medications such as Tongxuan Lipai Pills, Wind-Cold Common Cold Granules, Xiaoqinglong Mixture, Guilong Cough and Asthma Relief Capsules, and Apricot and Perilla Cough Syrup may be taken. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Foods

1. Ginger: Contains gingerol, which has the effects of warming the middle jiao, stopping vomiting, relieving exterior syndromes, and dispersing cold. It can dispel internal cold, warm the lungs, and alleviate symptoms such as coughing and clear, thin phlegm caused by cold body constitution.

2. Scallion whites: Rich in volatile oils, they have the functions of pungent-warm exterior-resolving, lung-ventilating, and yang-promoting. They can help expel internal cold and reduce cough caused by cold pathogen invasion.

3. Lamb: Contains abundant protein and calories, which can warm and nourish the body, dispel cold, and improve cold body constitution. It provides energy to the body, indirectly aiding respiratory function recovery and relieving chronic cough caused by cold constitution.

4. Walnuts: Rich in unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, and protein, they can nourish the kidneys, warm the lungs, moisten the intestines, and relieve constipation. They provide auxiliary relief for lung deficiency cough caused by cold constitution.

5. Longan: Contains glucose, B vitamins, and other nutrients that can nourish the heart and spleen, enrich blood, calm the mind, and possess warming properties. It can improve physical weakness caused by cold constitution and reduce discomfort associated with coughing.

2. Medications

1. Tongxuan Lipai Pills: Main ingredients include perilla leaf, peucedan root, platycodon root, etc., with functions of exterior-resolving to dispel cold and lung-ventilating to relieve cough. They are suitable for cough caused by cold constitution accompanied by chills, fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, and clear, thin phlegm. They can dispel cold and relieve respiratory spasms.

2. Wind-Cold Common Cold Granules: Contains ephedra, kudzu root, perilla leaf, etc., which can resolve exterior syndromes, induce perspiration, disperse wind and cold. They can relieve cough caused by cold constitution, reduce coughing, thin phlegm, headache, and body pain, and help restore clear airways.

3. Xiaoqinglong Mixture: Composed of ephedra, cinnamon twig, asarum root, etc., it has the effects of exterior-resolving, resolving phlegm, stopping cough, and relieving asthma. It is suitable for cough caused by cold constitution accompanied by excessive thin phlegm, chest tightness, shortness of breath, etc., and can warm and resolve cold phlegm while relieving lung discomfort.

4. Guilong Cough and Asthma Relief Capsules: Contains cinnamon twig, dragon bone, oyster shell, etc., which can stop coughing, resolve phlegm, relieve asthma, and lower qi. It is suitable for cough caused by cold constitution due to wind-cold or phlegm-dampness blocking the lungs, alleviating symptoms such as coughing, excessive white phlegm, and shortness of breath, gently regulating the respiratory tract.

5. Apricot and Perilla Cough Syrup: Main ingredients include bitter apricot seed, perilla leaf, platycodon root, etc., which have the effects of ventilating the lungs, dispersing cold, stopping cough, and eliminating phlegm. It is suitable for cough caused by cold constitution accompanied by nasal congestion, heavy voice, and thin white phlegm, moisturizing the respiratory tract and relieving cough.

Individuals with cough caused by cold constitution should pay attention to keeping warm in daily life, avoid catching a chill, drink plenty of warm water to moisturize the respiratory tract, and avoid raw and cold foods. When using medications, strictly follow medical instructions, adjust dosages according to the severity of cough, and avoid increasing or decreasing dosages or changing medications on your own.