What should I do if there is no medicine for a cold caused by wind and cold?

Dec 10, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Sun Lianqing

Introduction

When suffering from a cold due to wind and cold exposure and medication is unavailable, symptoms can be alleviated by drinking warm water frequently, staying warm, ensuring adequate rest, eating a light diet, and using physical remedies. If symptoms such as persistent high fever, difficulty breathing, or worsening conditions occur, seek medical attention promptly. Drinking warm water in small amounts but frequently helps rehydrate the body, promotes metabolism, aids in expelling internal cold, and relieves discomfort such as dry throat and nasal congestion.

When medication is unavailable for a cold caused by wind and cold, symptoms can be alleviated through drinking warm water regularly, staying warm, ensuring adequate rest, eating a light diet, and using physical remedies. If symptoms such as persistent high fever, difficulty breathing, or worsening conditions occur, seek medical attention promptly.

1. Drink warm water: Sip warm water in small amounts throughout the day. This helps rehydrate the body, promotes metabolism, assists in expelling internal cold, and relieves discomforts like dry throat and nasal congestion.

2. Stay warm: Add clothing promptly and use light blankets to avoid further exposure to wind or cold. Apply warm compresses to the forehead or neck as needed to ease bodily discomfort and reduce chills and headaches.

3. Ensure rest: Reduce physical activity and get sufficient sleep so the body can focus its energy on fighting pathogens. Avoid fatigue, which may lower immunity and worsen the illness.

4. Eat a light diet: Choose easily digestible foods such as millet porridge, soft noodles, and vegetable soup. Avoid spicy, greasy, raw, or cold foods to reduce gastrointestinal strain and provide nutritional support to aid recovery.

5. Use physical relief methods: For nasal congestion, gently massage the sides of the nostrils or apply a warm towel to the bridge of the nose to improve nasal airflow. For mild coughing, drink warm honey water to soothe the throat and reduce cough frequency.

Daily care should include maintaining good indoor ventilation, avoiding crowded places, and minimizing the risk of cross-infection. Monitor your health condition closely and adjust care strategies according to changes in body temperature and symptoms. Gentle调理 (regulation) can help the body gradually regain health.

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What causes muscle aches in cold-type common cold, and how to treat it?

In general, muscle aches associated with a cold due to wind and cold may be caused by factors such as lactic acid buildup, invasion of cold pathogens, viral myositis, rheumatoid arthritis, or fibromyalgia syndrome. Appropriate measures can be selected based on the specific situation to improve symptoms. Daily routines should include regular physical exercise to strengthen the body, and clothing should be adjusted promptly according to weather changes. Avoid strenuous exercise after catching a cold.

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What is the self-recovery process for a cold caused by wind-cold?

The self-recovery from a cold caused by wind-cold invasion is a process in which the body's vital energy (zheng qi) resists the cold pathogen. This process can be divided into several stages: initial stage with exterior constraint by cold, peak stage with struggle between vital energy and pathogen, relief stage with symptom alleviation, recovery stage with resurgence of vital energy, and healing stage with restoration of normal bodily functions. During the self-healing process of wind-cold感冒, it is important to observe certain precautions—ensuring adequate rest, drinking plenty of warm water, maintaining warmth, and avoiding re-exposure to cold to prevent worsening of the condition.

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What is the difference between wind-heat感冒 and wind-cold感冒?

Due to different pathogenic factors, wind-heat感冒 and wind-cold感冒 show clear differences in symptoms. The main distinctions include etiology and pathogenesis, manifestations of fever and aversion to cold, respiratory symptoms, accompanying symptoms, tongue coating, and pulse characteristics. Differentiation between the two types requires comprehensive assessment based on overall symptom presentation to avoid misdiagnosis based on a single symptom. Treatment must be targeted according to the specific pattern, carried out strictly under medical guidance, to ensure safety and effectiveness.

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What medicine is good for wind-cold type of common cold?

Wind-cold感冒 is mostly caused by external contraction of wind and cold. Commonly used treatments include Ganmao Qingre Granules, Zheng Chaihu Yin Granules, Fenghan Ganmao Granules, Tongxuan Lipul Pills, and Jingfang Granules. Their core functions are dispersing wind and cold and clearing exterior heat. These medications are suitable for the early stage of wind-cold感冒, characterized by symptoms such as headache, fever, aversion to cold, body aches, nasal congestion with clear nasal discharge, cough, and dry throat.