There is something I often hear in the clinic every winter. Patients say that once they catch a Common Cold, it lasts a long time, and just when it seems to get a little better, a runny nose and cough start again. A Common Cold usually improves with time, but when it recurs or lingers, we need to look not only at the symptoms appearing now but also at the body’s ability to hold up and recover.
How does Korean medicine view the Common Cold?
In Korean medicine, the Common Cold is called gammo, and it has been understood as symptoms that occur when cold, dry external stimuli disturb the body’s balance. Here, healthy qi refers to our body’s defense and recovery ability, while pathogenic qi is closer to external factors that cause infection and inflammation. From this perspective, we look carefully at why, even in the same environment, some people pass through it lightly while others remain ill for a long time.
Prescriptions differ depending on whether it is a runny nose or throat pain
Herbal medicine for Common Cold is not decided by the single name “Common Cold.” The approach differs depending on whether you feel chilly with clear runny nose, have a swollen throat and heat sensation, have yellow phlegm, or have prominent muscle aches. Prescriptions such as Socheongryong-tang, Galgeun-tang, and Yeongyopaedok-san are selected after reviewing these symptom patterns and the stage of illness.
If you get it often, we need to look at recovery capacity and constitution
Some people take medication each time they catch a Common Cold and feel briefly better, but soon become ill again. In these cases, we check whether they are unusually sensitive to cold, whether weak gastrointestinal function has reduced their food intake, and whether lack of sleep and overwork have accumulated. When needed, prescriptions such as Bojungikgi-tang or Okbyeongpung-san, which tonify qi and may help support Respiratory System defense function, can be considered.
We also manage chronic rhinitis and throat discomfort together
If a cough lingers after a Common Cold, or rhinitis, sinusitis, or pharyngitis recurs, dryness of the mucosa and inflammatory responses should be reviewed together. Gyeongokgo may be used in a direction that replenishes body fluids for those whose lungs and bronchial tubes tend to be dry, but it does not suit everyone in the same way. It is safer to decide whether to take it and for how long after checking your constitution, digestive status, and current medications.
We recommend receiving care in these cases
- When a Common Cold does not clearly improve for more than 1 week, or a cough lasts a long time
- When high fever, severe sore throat, yellow phlegm, or chest pain occurs together
- When rhinitis, sinusitis, or otitis media symptoms recur after a Common Cold
- If you have a chronic condition such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes, or if you are older
- If you have shortness of breath, decreased consciousness, severe dehydration, or bluish lips, you should call 119 or go to the emergency room first
To have fewer Common Colds, the basics are handwashing, enough sleep, indoor humidity control, and reducing excessive drinking and overwork. In addition, identifying your body’s weak areas and caring for the Respiratory System, Digestive System, and physical recovery together can help manage recurring Common Cold. If you are taking any medication, please do not stop it on your own and be sure to tell us during your visit.