How to treat cold in Oriental medicine
By Lee Sung-hun
Lee Sung-hun
On average, an adult catches a cold two to three times a year, and in fact it is the most common cause for an outpatient visit to a hospital here in Korea.
Despite the high number of clinic visits, there are no specific cures for the cold, which is fortunate as it is an illness that can often go away naturally without medical intervention. Hence the common saying goes, “You can get rid of a cold in seven days if you take a prescription, and in a week if you don’t.”
A cold is the general name given to a number of viral infections in the upper respiratory tract.
There are more than 200 viruses that are associated with the common cold, each with a variety of symptoms. As there are also different strains of each virus, it is nearly impossible to manufacture vaccines against every single one.
Therefore, the treatment for a cold usually focuses on alleviating symptoms.
Oriental medicine regards the cold as an illness that occurs when our body’s physiological functions and adaptability become diminished due to a variety of changes in the external environment such as wind, temperature and humidity.
External environmental factors that can bring about a cold such as the wind (“poong”) and cold weather (“han”) can become pathogenic qis that invade a weakened body.
For treating a cold that starts with a fever and chills along with muscular pains all over the body, Oriental medicine calls for sudorific treatments.
Herbal medication is administered to induce perspiration which helps discharge the invading pathogens from the infected body.
Scallion roots are known to have diaphoretic effects and could be consumed as a tea at the early onset of a cold. Cinnamon can also be used at the early stage of a cold as it has body-warming characteristics that promote qi-circulation, and it is especially effective when the patient has a cold sweat.
As a home remedy against colds, many Koreans often attempt to induce sweating by lying under a thick layer of blankets, or even visiting a sauna.
However, burying oneself under blankets can increase body temperature without inducing enough perspiration, which can be problematic. Also, over-sweating can end up damaging the healthy qi in the patient’s body rather than healing it.
Therefore, caution is required with such home remedies.
Unless properly treated at the early stages of a cold, or for a patient whose body lacks the healthy qi to properly defend itself due to old age or generally weak stamina, external pathogens that caused the cold can further entrench themselves and become chronic.
In such cases, Oriental treatment aims to support the body’s healthy qi so it can fight off the cold.
Ssanghwatang, commonly available as an over-the-counter medicine for treating the common cold, is such a medication.
Although most readers may drink it as just another cold medicine, ssanghwatang is a traditional medication that has been used to help patients of serious illnesses to recover their strength.
In some cases, patients get rid of all other symptoms except for constant coughing.
For such patients, drinking tea brewed with balloon flower roots can be effective. Balloon flower roots, a common ingredient in bibimbap recipes, are known to promote bronchial secretion, and thus are highly effective in getting rid of phlegm and calming the cough.
While there is no single cure for the common cold, Oriental medicine can provide tailored treatment options to fight off colds. If symptoms persist, you are recommended to visit your local Oriental clinic for professional medical advice.
The writer practices Oriental medicine at the UN Oriental Medical Clinic in Hannam-dong, Seoul.