Chinese medicine divides the cold and flu into Wind-Cold and Wind-Heat types. Identify your symptoms and put these home remedies to the test.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Chinese Medicine is the eight principles used to categorise and understand symptoms and steer the course of treatment. The eight principles define whether symptoms are internal or external, hot or cold, empty or full, and yin or yang. Each principle is divided into further subcategories, so learning to make a diagnosis requires acknowledging plenty of different factors.

Colds and flus are divided into Wind-Cold and Wind-Heat types:

The Wind-Cold type usually begins with aches and stiffness around the neck and shoulders. It often occurs as a result of excessive air-conditioning, wind and drafts. Symptoms may include sneezing and clear phlegm as well as feeling cold, achy and shivery. You don’t perspire or feel particularly thirsty. You may have a mild temperature, but not a fever as such.

When a Wind-Cold type cold or flu strikes, act quickly to stop it in its tracks before symptoms get worse. Heat is the best remedy, so sweat out the pathogen (in this case resulting for instance from a draft or air conditioning).

Get your body warm by taking a sauna, hot shower or bath. Then wrap up in warm clothing and snuggle under a blanket. You could also try steam inhalation. Enjoy plenty of hot fluids: boil up some water and add fresh ginger, spring onion, cinnamon and a dash of manuka honey. Follow these steps especially in the evenings when symptoms usually get worse.

Without early intervention, the Wind-Cold type can lead to a full-blown cold or flu. Sometimes it can turn into the Wind-Heat type.

In a Wind-Heat type cold or flu, the throat is sore and phlegm is thick and yellowish. You may have a high fever. The mouth is dry and you feel thirsty all the time. You may also have a headache and perspire. Shivering and general achiness are not as common as in the Wind-Cold type.

In a Wind-Heat type cold or flu, the body needs to be cooled down – not so much by going out, but by skipping remedies like ginger or having a sauna. Enjoy plenty of fluids, especially soups. Vegetables have a cooling effect, so opt for plant-based foods. Recommended drinks include infusions with peppermint and dried chrysanthemum flowers. Celery, strawberry and mulberry counteract Wind-Heat.

Gua Sha can relieve symptoms for instance if you have a common cold, sinus infection, runny nose, cough or bronchitis. Treated areas include the back of the neck, shoulders, upper back and chest.

Gua Sha in Traditional Chinese Medicine is very different from facial gua sha, as it is intended to create red areas or petichae called sha on the skin. These red spots can appear severe and painful, but Gua Sha doesn’t actually cause pain or require brute force. The sha remains on the skin for 3–4 days.

Sha easily appears on areas of the skin where pathogens are present. Typically it takes a few strokes with a gua sha tool before sha appears. Continue scraping until the sha no longer gets stronger. Apply 20–30 strokes in each area before moving to the next – the exact number depends on the applied strength. Make sure you have a firm grip, but don’t add force – the idea isn’t to apply pressure all the way to the muscle.

– Spread the salve over the area to be treated, like the neck, shoulders, chest and upper back.

– Use a downward motion for the neck and shoulders; outward motion for the chest; and downward motion for the upper back working in rows along the spine towards the sides.

– Hold the gua sha tool at a 20-degree angle and apply 15–20 cm long downward strokes.

– Apply 20–30 strokes in each area before moving to the next.

– After finishing, cover treated areas under long-sleeved clothing and protect skin from direct sunlight, cold and wind.

– After treatment, avoid cold, acidic and salty foods and liquids.

– You can do another round once the sha has disappeared completely.

– After treatment, clean the gua sha tool with soap and water, and disinfect if you wish.

Gua Sha is not suitable for:

– Areas with skin damage (bruises, rash, sun damage, etc.)

– Over raised moles or blemishes (cover with a finger or the other hand, or work around the area)

– If you have one of the following conditions: blood clot, aneurysm or vascular disease

– If you have a blood clotting disorder