Colds and Herbal medicine
Symptoms of colds and common treatments
It is said that people catch a cold two or three times a year. Symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough, phlegm, stuffy nose, and gastrointestinal disorders are unpleasant, but office workers and students cannot take a day off just because they have a cold, and housewives cannot cut corners when it comes to housework. When you go to a clinic, you will often be prescribed antipyretics, anti-inflammatory drugs, antitussives, antihistamines, antibiotics, etc. depending on your symptoms. People who don't have the time to go to a clinic can get by with over-the-counter general cold medicines, cough suppressants, and sinus medicines.
Chinese Herbal Cold Medicines: Timing and Types
Speaking of Chinese herbal cold remedies, most people may immediately think of "kakonto", but there are many different herbal remedies depending on the medical condition. The medicines used vary depending on the time of the cold, symptoms, and constitution. Just as a cold is written in kanji as "cold," in Chinese medicine it is interpreted as "wind evil."Medications are administered by determining where the evil is in the body, what state it is in, and whether or not it has the physical strength. Use it properly.
1 Colds begin with symptoms such as chills, fever, and headaches, and at this time of year, people believe that the evil is on the surface of the body, and place emphasis on sweating, which expels the evil from the body. As the symptoms progress and some of the evil that was on the surface of the body enters the body, problems appear in the respiratory tract and digestive tract. It is believed that evil has reached the middle of the "back", which is the deep internal organs of the body, and is called "half-front, half-back", and medicines are selected accordingly.
Choosing the Right Medicine for the Early Stages of a Cold
In the early stages of a cold, if you experience symptoms such as chills, fever, headache, stiffness in the neck, and inability to sweat, kakkonto is indicated. It is generally used for people with strong stomachs and intestines, and is not suitable for elderly or frail people. This is because ephedrine, the main component of ephedra in Kakkonto, has the effect of stimulating the sympathetic nervous system, making side effects more likely. In rare cases, it may cause heart palpitations and increased blood pressure, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms such as loss of appetite, stomach pain, and diarrhea.
If your face is red and you have a fever, headache, or cough, and you have a strong body that doesn't sweat easily, use maoto, but if you are sneezing or have a runny nose, use shoseiryuto. Kososan, Keishito, etc. are used for people who have decreased physical strength, those who are frail, and those who do not respond to new drugs. Kosan is suitable for the early stages of a cold in people who have weak stomachs and intestines and are nervous, while Keishito is used when people sweat naturally and have chills, fever, headache, or body aches.
Herbal Remedies for Advanced Cold Symptoms
If your cold symptoms progress and you experience symptoms such as coughing, sputum production, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, and a bitter taste in your mouth, use saiko. A representative medicine is Shosaikoba. Although it is simply called a cold, from the perspective of Chinese medicine, there are many different symptoms depending on the person, and the medicines used are also different. This can truly be called customized medical care.
acute phase
For those with full physical strength, fever, headache, cough, colds, nasal congestion, etc.
Colds, rhinitis, etc. for those with moderate or slight weakness of physical strength, coughing and runny nose with light watery phlegm.
Early stage of a cold in a person who is physically weak and has a rash
Colds in people who are physically weak, have cold hands and feet, and sometimes have chills.
Colds in people who are physically weak, have cold hands and feet, and sometimes have chills.
For those who are physically frail, irritable, and have a poor mood, such as in the early stages of a cold.
chronic phase
Common cold, etc. for those with moderate or higher physical strength, coughing, and sometimes thirst.
For people with moderate or weak physical strength and occasional low-grade fever or wretchedness, such as mid- to late-stage symptoms of a cold.
Colds in people with moderate physical fitness, prolonged fever in the convalescent period, frequent coughing and gasping, etc.
Common cold of those who are physically weak, lack of energy, weak stomach and intestines, and tired easily.
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