What do Chinese people take for colds?

Asked by: Ms. Aileen Hirthe  |  Last update: July 10, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (23 votes)

Chinese medicine for colds focuses on identifying whether the symptoms are "wind-cold" (chills, clear mucus, aches) or "wind-heat" (fever, sore throat, yellow mucus) to select appropriate herbs. Popular remedies include Yin Qiao San for early-stage fever/sore throat and Gan Mao Ling for general symptom relief, alongside warm fluids like ginger tea.

What do Chinese people do for colds?

Eat plenty of broth-based soups and rice. Drink warm liquids. If your symptoms are more "wind-cold," add ginger, cinnamon, green onion and garlic to your foods. If your symptoms are more "wind-heat," drink lots of peppermint tea and eat cooling fruits, like oranges and other citrus fruits.

What is the Chinese medicine for runny nose?

Xin-yi-san (XYS), a popular traditional Chinese herb, in combination with other herbs has been used for hundreds of year in the treatment of AR for alleviating nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea [3], [4].

What is the Chinese herb for cold medicine?

Gan Mao Ling is an herbal blend used for wind cold or wind heat stages. It's considered one of the most effective formulas, especially if started within the first 24 hours of symptoms.

What are the types of colds in Chinese medicine?

According to Chinese Medicine theories, there are two different types of cold: Wind-Cold and Wind-Heat.

How do Chinese people deal with the cold?

23 related questions found

How to naturally flush out a cold?

Cold remedies that work

  1. Drink plenty of fluids. Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen stuffiness, called congestion. ...
  2. Rest. Your body needs rest to heal.
  3. Sip warm liquids. ...
  4. Try honey. ...
  5. Add cool moisture to the air.

Are colds common in China?

Although self-limiting, the common cold is highly prevalent. According to the latest National Health Services Survey, the morbidity rate of common colds in China is 34.4%, in which, over 1/5 of patients will visit a physician, and the hospitalization rate is 5.4% (NHFPC, 2013).

What do Chinese people drink when sick?

3. Dietary Remedies and Drinks

  • Ginger Tea: If you have chills and body aches, but no sweating, try boiling a few slices of fresh ginger in water for 10-15 minutes. Add honey or brown sugar if desired. ...
  • Chrysanthemum Tea: When you're experiencing fever, sore throat and sweating, let Royal Chrysanthemum tea be your go to.

What stops a cold dead in its tracks?

Your body needs energy to fight off infections, so rest is one of the most important steps you can take. At the first sign of a cold, slow down and give yourself time to recharge. Aim for at least seven to nine hours of sleep per night, as your immune system works the hardest when you're resting.

What herbs knock out a cold?

Elderberry is a bush usually decorated with a glorious display of tiny, white flowers. In the fall, the plant produces small, purplish-red berries that are renowned for their anti-viral properties. Elderberries are known for possibly shortening the duration of the common cold and flu and lessen their severity.

What naturally kills the flu virus?

There is currently no strong scientific evidence that any natural product is useful against the flu. Zinc taken orally (by mouth) may help to treat colds, but it can cause side effects and interact with medicines.

What do the Chinese do for sinus infections?

Repeated invasions of external Wind are the main cause of sinusitis especially when the person does not take care or have extra rest during such invasions. According to Chinese Medicine theory acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be prescribed to treat sinusitis. Chinese herbs are used for the treatment of Wind-Heat.

How do Japanese cure colds?

Shoga-Yu (Hot Ginger Tea)

Shoga-yu, or hot ginger tea, is one of the most common and easily accessible home remedies for colds in Japan. This tea has high levels of vitamin C and amino acids, and many other nutrients. Ginger also has a warming effect, which is ideal for combating a cold or flu.

What Chinese drink is good for a cough?

Pear juice: For patients with cough more than 7 days, they can use one pear and remove the top to form a cap. Then remove the core and add 3 grams of 川貝粉 in the core with some honey. Cover with the cap and double boiler. Eat and drink the pear and juice.

What is an old remedy for a cold?

The 15th-century medical recipes. Take four parts of stale ale and four parts of mustard seed and two or three small nutmegs ground up and do all this in a glass that your nose goes in and set this on the fire in a panfull of water until it boils to some degree.

How to flush out a cold fast?

Below are ways you can feel better while your body fights off cold symptoms:

  1. Get plenty of rest.
  2. Drink plenty of fluids.
  3. Use a clean humidifier or cool mist vaporizer.
  4. Use saline nasal spray or drops. ...
  5. Breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water or shower. ...
  6. Use throat lozenges or cough drops.

Is laying in bed all day good for a cold?

Rest : This is the time to recharge your body's immune system. Rest and sleep are the best ways to do that.

What foods help fight off a cold?

Immune-boosting foods rich in vitamins and antioxidants may help to improve your cold symptoms. These include foods like citrus fruits, berries, and leafy greens. Proper hydration thins mucus and soothes a sore throat. Drinking plenty of fluids can help relieve cold symptoms.

How to treat a cold cold in Chinese?

Treatments and diet for wind-cold type of common cold

  1. For symptoms like headache and chillness, boil Dou-fu with black soy and ginger.
  2. Cook green-onion with Dou-Fu for nasal congestion and general soreness.
  3. Cook egg soup with green-onion.
  4. Ginger soup for dispelling wind and dissipating cold.

What is the #1 cause of death in China?

In China, stroke, ischemic heart disease and COPD are the leading causes of death, while cancer is the leading cause of death in Chinese Americans.

What is the 3-hour rule in China?

In 2019, Chinese authorities restricted minors to 90 minutes of video games on weekdays and 3 hours on weekends, while also banning gaming between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Authorities further tightened regulations in 2021, permitting play only from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

What is not polite in China?

Don't go straight for a hug. Especially when meeting someone for the first time. Any body contact, apart from a simple handshake, may make your new Chinese friends feel uncomfortable. Don't address elders using 'ni hao' (/nee haow/).

Is it illegal to carry a Bible in China?

Having a Bible or buying one is not illegal in China. People traveling to China can also bring their Bible, even as a gift for someone within the country. However, they can't be purchased just anywhere, and printing of the Bible is limited by the government.