Treating Colds with Chinese Medicine-
by Susie Orenstein-Turner, L.Ac, MPA

Acupuncture can be very helpful in helping the body fight
infections and colds. In Chinese Medical terms cold patterns
include: wind cold, with symptoms such as white nasal
discharge and shivering, and wind heat with fever, yellow nasal
discharge and sore throat.  Other patterns include wind damp
heat, manifesting with heaviness of the head and nausea and
wind dry heat with dry nose, mouth and throat. Cough
patterns include lung heat, lung phlegm heat and damp
phlegm in the lungs

Acupuncture points on the lung channel and other cold
diminishing and phlegm reducing points on the body are used.
 Needling points on the chest where the lung channel begins
and on the upper back where the points corresponding to the
lungs are located can be very effective in eliminating nasal
congestion, coughs and phlegm.  Individuals who frequently
catch colds and have difficulty getting over their colds may
have a deeper underlying pattern that needs to be addressed
to build their immunity.

There are various patent formulas to use depending on the
severity of your cold and symptoms.  Using Acupuncture and
herbs can prevent colds from progressing into something
more severe like bronchitis or pneumonia when antibiotics are
typically needed.  They will give you more energy and enable
you to get over your colds quicker.   

Treating Colds Naturally