Formulas & Needles
Summer Colds vs Winter Colds: TCM Prevention and Treatment
Summer colds are different from winter colds in TCM. They involve wind-heat rather than wind-cold. Learn how to distinguish them and treat summer colds with cooling herbs and acupressure.
A Personal NoteI used to be puzzled by summer colds 鈥?how can you catch a cold in hot weather? The answer is that summer colds are not caused by cold. They are caused by wind-heat (椋庣儹), a combination of summer heat and wind that penetrates when the body is overheated and vulnerable. The symptoms and treatments are different from winter colds. Using ginger tea 鈥?the classic winter remedy 鈥?can actually make a summer cold worse. Understanding this distinction is one of the most practical TCM skills I have learned.
Wind-Cold vs Wind-Heat
| Symptom | Wind-Cold (Winter) | Wind-Heat (Summer) |
|---|---|---|
| Fever | Low, with chills | High, aversion to heat |
| Thirst | No | Yes |
| Sweating | No | Possible slight |
| Sore throat | Mild | Severe, red |
| Nasal discharge | Clear, watery | Yellow, thick |
| Cough sputum | White, thin | Yellow, thick |
| Tongue coating | Thin, white | Thin, yellow |
| Pulse | Tight, floating | Rapid, floating |
Key Herbs for Summer Colds (Wind-Heat)
Jin Yin Hua (閲戦摱鑺?: Sweet, cold. First herb for wind-heat colds. Use at first sign 鈥?sore throat, fever.
Lian Qiao (杩炵繕): Bitter, cool. For swollen, painful throat. Often combined with Jin Yin Hua.
Sang Ye (妗戝彾): Sweet, bitter, cold. For summer colds with headache, red eyes, cough.
Ju Hua (鑿婅姳): Sweet, bitter, cool. For headache and eye irritation from summer colds.
Bo He (钖勮嵎): Pungent, cool. Cooling, refreshing. Use in tea.
Classic Formula: Yin Qiao San (Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder)
The essential formula for wind-heat conditions. Available as tablets, capsules, or tea (Gan Mao Ling is a related patent medicine).
When to take: At the very first sign 鈥?scratchy throat, feverish feeling, headache.
Acupressure for Summer Colds
Feng Chi (GB20): Below skull base. Releases wind-heat from head. Press upward 1 min.
Da Zhui (DU14): Below 7th cervical vertebra. Boosts immune response, clears heat.
He Gu (LI4): Between thumb and index finger. Master point for face and head. Clears heat, relieves sore throat. Press 1 min.
Qu Chi (LI11): Outer elbow. Clears heat from whole body. Press 1 min.
Summer Cold Tea
Honeysuckle and Chrysanthemum Tea: Jin Yin Hua 10g, Ju Hua 5g, Bo He 3g, Gan Cao 3g. Steep in 400ml boiling water 10 min. Drink 2-3 cups daily.
Prevention
The biggest risk factor is not outdoor heat but the transition between hot air and air conditioning. The rapid temperature change creates an opening for wind-heat to enter.
- Dry off before entering air-conditioned buildings
- Cover your neck and upper back (most vulnerable area)
- Avoid AC blowing on your face and neck while sleeping
- Strengthen Lung qi with Huang Qi 9g daily tea
- Deep breathing in the morning
