The Two Types of Common Cold in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): Cold vs. Hot
As a traditional medicine practitioner, I often get asked for gentle ways to support ourselves while recovering from common cold, especially this time of the year which brings a wave of sniffles around. In TCM, we have two dominant types of common cold: “Cold” vs. “Hot”, and each requires a different care all together. So simply reaching for a ginger tea if you have a common cold is not the ideal choice.
What’s the difference between Cold and Hot common colds?
Cold Type: This is the “bundle up in a blanket” type common cold. You feel chills/shivers with a runny nose (clear mucus), and body aches. Also, you might sneeze around, have a stiff neck, and crave for warmth.
Hot Type: In this type of common cold, you feel feverish with sore/scratchy throat. Your nose run with thicker or yellowish mucus. You may experience sweating, thirst, dry throat, and a flushed face.
Warming Ginger & Cinnamon Tea for Cold type common cold:
Ingredients:
- 1 cinnamon stick (or 1 tsp cinnamon powder)
- 4-5 cm piece of fresh ginger root, pilled and thinly sliced
- (Optional) 3 dried Chinese red dates, pitted and sliced
- (Optional) 1 licorice root tea bag
- 3 cups (~750 mL) water
Add water, ginger, and cinnamon (plus red dates and licorice, if using) to a saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain and pour into a mug. Sip the warm tea slowly while wrapped in a blanket and take a short nap afterwards. The goal is to encourage a gentle, therapeutic sweat (not a drenching one!). If one cup didn’t induce a gentle sweat, have another cup a few hours later. Sometimes, a small bowl of warm simple congee along this tea can help the gentle sweating process which aims to help the body’s recovery without causing further depletion.
Cooling Mint & Chrysanthemum Tea for Hot common cold:
Ingredients:
- Small handful of fresh mint (about 10 g) or 1 tbsp dried mint
- 2 tbsp (about 3 g) dried chrysanthemum flowers
- 1 tsp green tea or 1 green tea bag
- 1/2 tbsp (about 5 g) goji berries
- 2 cups (~500 mL) water
Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Then add goji berries, chrysanthemum, and mint to the boiling water, and simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat, add the green tea, and steep for 30 minutes. Strain the tea. Let cool slightly and drink it warm. Limit to a maximum of 2 cups per day, with at least 4-5 hours between each cup. Do not use this tea for more than two consecutive days, as you do not want to cool the body too much!
A Gentle Reminder: Home cares can be comforting, but they don’t replace professional medical care. If your symptoms are severe, persistent, or you’re unsure about your health, please consult your healthcare practitioner. These two recipes are suitable only for individuals aged 7 years and older who do not have any underlying health complications or known allergies to the listed ingredients.
get in touch
Have any questions about Acupuncture and Moxibustion treatments? Sara is available to discuss your health concerns and treatment options.
Copyright © 2023- 2026 Acupuncture Moxa Melbourne – All Rights Reserved.