Yellow nasal discharge: is it Wind-Heat or Wind-Cold?

Yellow nasal discharge is often associated with wind-heat common cold. Wind-heat common cold is primarily caused by external contraction of wind-heat pathogenic factors. The pathogenic factors attack the lung's defensive system, causing disharmony of lung qi and dysfunction of the lung's purifying and descending functions. Symptoms include not only fever, but also a dry throat and mouth. Regarding nasal discharge and phlegm, patients typically present with yellow nasal discharge and coughing up yellow phlegm.

Wind-cold common cold, on the other hand, is mainly caused by external invasion of wind-cold pathogenic factors. Its typical symptoms include severe aversion to cold, with a pronounced feeling of coldness, relatively mild fever, and usually absence of perspiration, with clear nasal discharge commonly observed.

In terms of treatment, the principle for managing wind-heat common cold should focus on clearing heat, detoxifying, and dispersing wind-heat. Commonly used medications include honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), which has functions of clearing heat and detoxifying and dispersing wind-heat; forsythia (Forsythia suspensa), which clears heat and detoxifies and reduces swelling and disperses nodules; and mint (Mentha haplocalyx), which disperses wind-heat and clears the head and eyes. These medications can all help clear heat and detoxify, and promote lung function while expelling pathogenic factors.

Although yellow nasal discharge is commonly seen in cases of wind-heat common cold, other possibilities should not be ruled out. For example, bacterial infections or allergic reactions may also cause yellow nasal discharge.

If symptoms of yellow nasal discharge occur, do not take medication blindly on your own; prompt medical attention is advised.