Sustained cold symptoms
Sometimes the symptoms do not disappear completely after a cold or other respiratory infection. The worst symptoms are over, but you keep coughing for example, feeling tired faster, having trouble with your nose or throat, or simply not feeling fully recovered. In others, the symptoms seem to disappear first, to replay during fatigue or exertion.
There may be several causes for long-term complaints after an infection. Therefore, it is important to have persistent or striking complaints assessed medically if necessary.
Within Chinese medicine, we look at the specific symptoms that have been left behind after the acute infection. This may involve both a still present disturbance and a weakening which occurred during or after the disease. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are tailored to this individual pattern.
Common symptoms
In case of persistent symptoms following a cold or respiratory infection may include:
- persistent fatigue;
- a cough that does not disappear completely;
- dry or irritated throat;
- recurrent throat pain;
- persistent nasal congestion or nasal secretion;
- mucus in the airways or sinuses;
- headache or heavy, blurred head;
- muscle pain or feeling heavy in the body;
- decreased appetite or nausea;
- swollen or sensitive lymph nodes;
- slight increase or varying heat and cold sensations;
- symptoms that become more apparent after exercise or fatigue.
What symptoms occur depends partly on the original infection and the cause of the persistent recovery.
Possible causes
Sustained symptoms can occur during normal recovery after respiratory infection. Especially cough and fatigue may remain present longer than the acute cold symptoms.
If symptoms persist or increase again for a long time, other causes may also play a role. For example, the original infection may be followed by another respiratory disease or there may be an underlying condition that affects recovery.
How can acupuncture help with persistent cold symptoms?
In the case of persistent complaints, acupuncture treatment is tailored to what is at the forefront after acute infection. For example, a dry rest cough with heat and dryness requires a treatment other than fatigue, clear mucus and a constant feeling of coldness.
The treatment may include:
- supporting the function of the Lungs in the event of persistent cough;
- reducing nasal congestion and remaining respiratory problems;
- treating residual Heat, Dampness or Phlegm when these characteristics are present;
- regulating a changing picture of complaints where someone feels better and worse alternately;
- supporting Qi when fatigue and difficult recovery are at the forefront.
When the acute symptoms are gone but someone easily gets a cold again, treatment shifts more towards supporting the underlying resistance.
How can Chinese herbal medicine help with persistent cold symptoms?
Chinese herbs can be used daily between treatments and are therefore important within TCM for complaints that persist after infection.
Treatment may be directed at:
- the treatment of residual respiratory complaints;
- supporting Lung-Qi in case of a weak or prolonged cough;
- supplementing Qi and body fluids when someone is exhausted or dry after illness;
- reducing Dampness or Phlegm in case of heaviness, mucus and indigestion;
- treat remaining Heat when heat, dryness or yellow mucus remains present.
The treatment explicitly differs from person to person. For example, the TCM theory does not automatically allow for enhanced herbs when there are still clear signs of a delayed pathogen. Therefore, the overall picture of complaints is first assessed.
How does Chinese medicine view persistent cold symptoms?
In an acute cold, TCM traditionally speaks about the intrusion of an external pathogen, often referred to as Wind . Normally this disturbance is driven out again and restores the body.
Sometimes, however, according to this theory, part of the disturbance remains present. This is called a remaining pathogenic factor. The acute symptoms have then largely disappeared, but for example cough, mucus, sore throat, fatigue, mild heat or heavy feeling remain.
At the same time, an infection can burden the Qi and body fluids. This may create a combination: the body is weakened, while the original disturbance has not completely disappeared.
Especially the Lung organ system is important because of its relationship with breathing, coughing, nose and throat and the spread of Qi on the surface of the body. According to TCM, the Spleen organ system plays a role in the formation of Qi and the processing of food and liquids. Therefore, it is also involved when fatigue, low appetite, heaviness or mucus formation are part of the complaint image.
In some people the disturbance is, according to classical theory, between the outside and the deeper layers of the body. This is called the Shao-Yang level. Characteristic is that complaints can change or come up again and again.
What is a TCM organ system?
A TCM organ system describes a group of related body functions and is wider than just the anatomical organ with the same name. Read more at TCM basics .
What is a TCM pattern?
A TCM pattern is a recognizable combination of complaints and physical characteristics that indicates which imbalance is likely to contribute to the complaints. Read more at TCM basics .
Below are only the most common patterns discussed. Other patterns are possible and multiple patterns can occur at the same time. This allows you to recognize yourself in different descriptions. Also, someone with a certain pattern does not have to have all the symptoms mentioned. The pattern is determined on the basis of the overall picture of complaints.
Most common TCM patterns
Ying-Wei-disharmony
Brief explanation
Ying-Qi and Wei Qi are seen within TCM as two forms of Qi that work closely together on the surface of the body. After infection, this collaboration can be disturbed according to traditional theory. This allows someone to remain sensitive to wind and temperature changes and easily sweat, while other mild cold symptoms keep coming back.
Common symptoms
- easy or spontaneous sweating;
- feeling clammy;
- sensitivity to wind and sudden temperature changes;
- variable light chills and warmth;
- persistent nasal congestion;
- slight headache;
- stiff or painful muscles and joints;
- fatigue;
- sometimes a residual cough.
Examples of Western disorders
This pattern can be recognised during recovery following a cold, influenza or other acute respiratory infection in which mild symptoms persist.
Lung- and Spleen-Qi-deficiency with residual Wind
Brief explanation
According to TCM, both resistance and recovery capacity have been weakened. The acute infection is largely over, but the body does not have enough strength to completely clean up the remaining complaints. This picture is mainly seen in people who were already tired, easily ill or difficult to repair after an infection.
Common symptoms
- long-term fatigue;
- symptoms that worsen during exercise;
- fast out of breath;
- weak or soft voice;
- persistent weak cough;
- clear or white mucus;
- persistent runny nose or nasal congestion;
- regular slight sore throat;
- Curvature;
- low appetite;
- pale radiating pain;
- It's easy to catch a cold again.
Examples of Western disorders
This pattern can be recognised in recurrent colds and a prolonged recovery phase after respiratory infection.
Remaining Heat with Qi and Yin deficiency
Brief explanation
According to TCM Heat, infection with obvious heat symptoms can leave behind while exhausting Qi, Yin and body fluids. This results in a combination of fatigue and dryness with mild, persistent heat phenomena.
Common symptoms
- persistent dry, irritating cough;
- cough that can be worse at night;
- dry mouth and mucous membranes;
- thirst;
- dry or painful throat;
- hoarseness or loss of voice;
- slight increase;
- night sweats or spontaneous sweating;
- restless or interrupted sleep;
- irritability or restlessness;
- increasing fatigue;
- sometimes swollen lymph nodes or almonds.
Examples of Western disorders
This pattern can be recognized during the recovery phase after respiratory infection, especially if a dry rest cough and fatigue persist.
Dampness and Phlegm-Heat
Brief explanation
Dampness describes a heavy and viscous image of complaints within TCM. When liquids accumulate, this can be described as Phlegm. In combination with Heat, prolonged symptoms may occur after an infection that combines mucus, heaviness, fatigue and heat phenomena.
Common symptoms
- persistent fatigue and sluggishness;
- feeling heavy or blurred in the head;
- heavy feeling in arms and legs;
- muscle pain;
- mucus in airways or sinuses;
- yellow or difficult to cough up mucus;
- chest feeling full or oppressive;
- decreased appetite;
- nausea;
- bloated or full feeling in the abdomen;
- loose or difficult to pass stools;
- mild or recurrent fever;
- night sweats;
- swollen lymph nodes or almonds.
Examples of Western disorders
This pattern can be recognised in long-term complaints following an infection that combines fatigue, mucus formation, heavy feeling and indigestion.
Shao-Yang-disharmony
Brief explanation
The Shao-Yang level is described within TCM as a transition between the more superficial and deeper layers of the body. If a disturbance lingers here, a remarkably variable picture of complaints may arise. Someone feels better for a while, for example, after which complaints reemerge.
Common symptoms
- alternating heat and cold or chills;
- recurrent mild fever;
- increasing fatigue;
- complaints coming in waves;
- decreased appetite;
- nausea, sometimes especially in the morning;
- bitter or strange taste in the mouth;
- dizziness;
- heavy or fuzzy head;
- discomfort or tension around chest or ribs;
- irritability;
- Sometimes night sweats.
Examples of Western disorders
This pattern can be recognized during a prolonged or varying recovery phase after respiratory infection.
When to contact your doctor?
Allow long-term complaints to be assessed if you do not recover properly after an infection or if symptoms increase clearly again.
Please contact your doctor before if you experience breathlessness, chest pain, coughing up blood, persistent or recurrent high fever, severe drowsiness or confusion, marked deterioration or if you feel seriously ill.
Also unexplained persistent swollen lymph nodes, marked weight loss or prolonged complaints without apparent improvement deserve conventional medical assessment.
Outlook
The course of treatment depends, among other things, on the original infection, the duration and severity of the remaining symptoms, the underlying TCM pattern and general health. Complaints that are only recently present can sometimes change faster than complaints that have been going on for weeks or longer.
In the initial phase, one acupuncture treatment per week is a common guideline. For obvious or persistent complaints can be treated more frequently temporarily. When the symptoms become less stable, the frequency can be reduced. Chinese herbs can be used daily between treatments when appropriate.
Long-term recovery not only looks at the disappearance of remaining respiratory problems, but also at energy, capacity for activity and the tendency to get sick again. This may take longer than with a simple acute cold.
Contact
Keeping complaints after a cold or respiratory infection and want to know if acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine can fit in with your symptoms? During a first consultation we discuss the original infection, the course of recovery and other relevant symptoms. Based on the overall picture of complaints, we will examine which TCM pattern is probably at the forefront and what treatment fits in with it.