Is having "shang huo" (excessive internal heat) combined with a cold considered a wind-heat cold?
Disease description:
My friend's condition of excessive internal heat (referred to as "fire" or "heat" in traditional Chinese medicine) had just recovered not long ago when it recurred again, repeatedly flaring up. This time, a common cold also developed, causing significant disruption to daily life. I would like to understand whether the combination of excessive internal heat and a cold is categorized as a wind-heat type of common cold in traditional Chinese medicine.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. He Haochen
The condition of "excessive internal heat" accompanied by a cold is often classified in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a wind-heat type of common cold. Wind-heat cold is typically caused by external invasion of wind-heat pathogenic factors, manifesting a series of typical heat-related symptoms such as headache, head fullness, sweating, sore and swollen throat, cough with yellow phlegm, thick nasal discharge, sticky and difficult-to-expectorate sputum, and sometimes even high fever. When the body is in a state of excessive internal heat, the balance of yin and yang is disrupted and immunity declines, making it more susceptible to wind pathogens and thus increasing the likelihood of developing wind-heat cold symptoms. When symptoms of excessive internal heat combined with a cold appear, an initial diagnosis of wind-heat cold may be made, and appropriate treatments aimed at clearing heat, detoxifying, dispelling wind, and relieving fever should be adopted to promote recovery. Patients with concerns are advised to seek timely medical consultation.
