Common Cold & Influenza

Question 1

Describe an exterior full condition

Answer 1

Wind combined with Cold: no sweating, pores are closed
Usually in a person with relatively strong constitution, tendency to excess patterns; Wei Qi reacts strongly, pores closed, no sweat
Tight pulse corresponds to attack of Cold, Tai Yang

Question 2

Describe an exterior empty condition

Answer 2

If Wind predominates Cold, pores are open, slight sweating, slow pulse
Weak constitution, tendency toward to Deficient patterns; Ying Qi weak
Slow Pulse corresponds to attack of Wind, Tai Yang

Question 3

Aversion to cold, sneezing, cough, runny nose with white-watery mucus, fever, severe occipital stiffness and ache, no sweating, no thirst;
P: Floating-Tight.
T: body color unchanged, thin white coating

Answer 3

Wind-Cold

Question 4

Aversion to cold, fever, sneezing, cough, runny nose with slightly yellow mucus, occipital stiffness and ache, itchy throat, sore throat, swollen tonsils, thirst.
P: Floating-Rapid
T: Red on tip or sides, thin white coating

Answer 4

Wind-Heat

Question 5

Aversion to cold, fever, swollen neck glands, nausea, sweating, occipital stiffness, body aches, muscle ache, feeling of heaviness of the body, swollen joints
P: Floating Slippery

Answer 5

Wind Dampness

Question 6

Fever, slight aversion to cold, slight sweating, dry skin, nose, mouth and throat, dry cough, sore throat
T: dry with thin white coating
P: Floating Rapid

Answer 6

Wind Dryness

Question 7

Aversion to cold, fever, edema especially on face, swollen face and eyes, cough with profuse white and watery mucus, sweating, no thirst
P: Floating

Answer 7

Wind Water

Question 8

What are the two schools of thought regarding colds/flu?

Answer 8

1. Shang Han Lun, Discussion of the Cold Induced Diseases by Zhang Zhong Jing, 220 AD
2. Wen Bing, School of Warm Diseases, Ye Tian Shi, late 1600s and early 1700s
   *Some exterior pathogenic factors go beyond the characteristics of Wind; they are strong and virulent, despite the strength of a person’s Qi, illness sets in
   *External pathogens are infectious
   *Wen Yi “warm epidemic pathogenic factor”
   *Pathogenic factors causing *Warm diseases enter via the mouth and nose, not via the skin as in Wind-Cold
   Warm Diseases: measles, chickenpox, German measles, poliomyelitis, smallpox, scarlet fever, whooping cough or meningitis;
   *Despite treating the invasion, releasing the exterior, Warm diseases are not stoppable at the beginning stage

Question 9

Acute fever, chills predominate; no sweating; occipital h/a; muscle aches, neck stiffness; nasal obstruction, runny nose, thin watery mucus; sneezing; cough or wheezing thin mucus;
T: normal, thin white coat
P: floating; floating, tight
TX: Expel Wind and Cold, Redirect Lung Qi down
LI 4; GB 20; BL 12, 13; GV 14; LU 7, Ding Chuan,
GV 23, ST 36;
Jing Fang Bai Du San

Answer 9

Wind Cold

Wind Cold enters through the pores, tai yang channels and Lungs; cold ‘freezes and constricts’, closing the pores, locking in the Wind Cold

Question 10

Acuter fever, mild or no chills; sore, dry scratchy throat; mild sweating; h/a; thirst; cough with thick or sticky yellow mucus; nasal obstruction or thick yellow or green discharge
T: normal or red tipped, thin yellow coat
P: floating, rapid
TX: Expel Wind Heat, Clear Heat from Lungs
GV 14; BL 12; LI 11, 4; TW 5; LU 11, SI 17 for sore throat; LU 5 for cough;
Yin Qiao San

Answer 10

Wind-Heat

Wind-Heat enters through the nose or mouth, Yang pathogens that focus on the upper body

Question 11

Acute, high fever unrelieved by sweating; heaviness in body; nausea and vomiting; diarrhea; woolly headedness; fatigue, lethargy; thirst; irritability, restless; concentrated urine; Sx worse mid-afternoon
T: greasy white or yellow coat
P: soft, soggy, possibly rapid
TX: Clear Summer Damp, transform dampness
LU 6; LI 4; TW 6; SP 9; CV 12; ST 36; GV 14, PC 6, BL 25, SP 21
Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San

Answer 11

Summer Heat and Dampness

Mostly occur during hot humid weather, end of summer, early autumn; tropical climates

Question 12

Dry nose, lips, mouth and throat; cracked lips; mild fever; aversion to wind and cold; h/a; slight sweating; dry cough, little or no mucus;
T: normal or dry, slight red body, thin white coat
P: floating and wiry; maybe rapid
TX: Expel Wind, moisten dryness, Nourish Yin
GV 14; LI 4, 11; LU 5; TW 5; KD 6; SP 6; CV 22
Sang Xing Tang

Answer 12

Wind Dryness

Occurs mostly during autumn or follow a wind heat attack that damages fluids; Lung affected

Question 13

High fever, severe chills; loud cough, sticky yellow mucus; no sweats; general muscle aches; nasal obstruction; occipital h/a; strong thirst, cold drinks; sore throat; irritability, restless; dry stools, constipation
T: red or with red tip, edges; thin white or yellow coat
P: floating and tight, possibly rapid
TX: Expel Wind and Cold, Clear internal heat
GV 14; BL 12; LI 11; LI 4; LU 5; TW 5; LU 11, TW 17 throat;
TW 2, LU 10 with internal Heat
Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang

Answer 13

Wind cold with Interior Heat

Wind Cold attack with internal Heat in a constitutionally hot person, pre-existing heat in Lung; Strong zheng Qi battles exterior cold generating internal heat; Yang Ming affected.

Question 14

Mild chills, fever; h/a; sweating; nasal obstruction; cough, white or clear mucus; recurrent mild sore throat, swollen cervical lymph nodes; fatigue, lethargy; low voice, reluctant to speak; SOB; Sx worse with exertion; cold tends to linger, recurrent;
T: pale, thin white coat P: floating and weak
TX: Clear the exterior and support Qi
GB 20; LU 7; BL 12; LI 4; ST 36; CV 4; GV 14; ST 36

Shen Su Yin
between acute episodes: Yu Ping Feng San

Answer 14

Qi deficiency, external wind

Common in elderly, Zheng Qi is weak, body’s response to pathogen is weak, symptoms are mild, however condition may be serious;

Question 15

Strong chills or shivering, mild feverishness; chronic aversion to cold, desire to curl up; exhaustion; h/a, myalgia, bone aches; none or spontaneous sweating; low, soft voice; waxy pale complexion; cold body, extremities;
T: pale and swollen, white coat P: deep, weak
TX: Support Yang, clear the exterior
GB 20, LU 7; BL 12; LI 4; ST 36; GV 14

Shen Fu Zai Zao Wan

Answer 15

Yang deficiency, Wind Cold

Pre-existing Yang def.; Wei Qi will be weak; clinical presentation not be obvious Wind Cold but with aggravation of existing KD Yang deficiency; simultaneous Tai Yang & Shao Yin, Bladder and Kidney relationship

Question 16

Acute h/a; fever; mild chills; little or no sweat; lustreless, sallow complexion; pale nails, lips; fatigue; palpitations; dizziness;
T: Pale P: thready or floating, thready, weak
TX: Nourish Blood, clear the exterior
GB 20; LU 7; BL 12; LI 4; ST 36; CV 4; GV 14

Cong Bai Qi Wei Yin

Answer 16

Blood deficiency, external wind

Pre-existing Blood deficiency with Wind, hot or cold, following blood loss, during pregnancy

Question 17

Acute h/a; fever; mild chills; aversion to wind, cold; little or no sweat; dizziness; irritability, restless; ‘five hearts hot;’ thirst, dry mouth and throat;  dry cough, little or no mucus;
T:  red and dry, little or no coat
P:  thready and rapid
TX:  Nourish Yin, clear the exterior
GB 20; LU 7; BL 12; LI 4; SP 6; KD 3
Jia Jin Wei Rui Tang

Answer 17

Yin deficiency, external wind

Elderly or after prolonged illness; Yin deficiency with Wind, hot or cold

Question 18

What is more effective at the Wei Qi level- acupuncture or herbs?

Answer 18

At Wei Qi level, acupuncture is as effective as herbs with daily treatment, or twice per day

Question 19

What is more effective at the Qi level- acupuncture or herbs?

Answer 19

At Qi level, herbs are more effective, especially in cases of Fire that requires draining or purging

Question 20

Why is the use of antibiotics not encouraged?

Answer 20

Use of antibiotics not encouraged, weaken ST Qi, the source of Qi and Blood in the body