Cold and Flu Dietary Therapy for Symptom-Specific Treatment
When suffering from a cold but not yet requiring injections or medication, many people resort to dietary therapy. The key during a cold is "eating according to constitution and timing." Experts remind that cold-related dietary therapy should be tailored to different conditions.
Prevention Stage
White radish and tea: White radish has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and diuretic effects, making it an excellent natural anti-inflammatory agent. In daily life, drinking fresh radish juice mixed with honey can relieve sore throat. A study from Harvard University also found that those who drink 5 cups of black or green tea daily for two weeks significantly enhance their immune function.
Early Cold Stage
Red sugar ginger soup: Ginger promotes sweating and helps expel accumulated heat in the body, especially old ginger which improves blood circulation when water content is low. Adding red sugar replenishes energy. However, this ginger soup is suitable only for external wind-cold invasion; it's unsuitable for heat-induced colds. Avoid if there's inflammation or bleeding.
Inflammation or Flu Stage
When experiencing symptoms like swollen throat, runny nose, yellow thick phlegm, high fever, etc., avoid tonics such as ginseng, angelica root, astragalus, and sesame oil, as they may exacerbate the condition. Traditional Chinese medicine considers cold-natured fruits like watermelon and pear effective for clearing heat and reducing internal fire.
Onion and fermented soybean soup: Use the white part of green onions combined with fermented soybeans to make a decoction. It helps relieve headache and nasal congestion and benefits those with fever.