Common Cold and Influenza

The cold is a common infectious disease. The causative factors and susceptibility to viruses vary, the cold may be divided into the common cold and influenza.

Common cold is an acute infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by the cold virus. Clinical manifestations are sneezing, stuffy nose with watery secretion, dryness followed by sore throat, hoarseness of voice, dry cough, general malaise, etc.

Influenza is caused by the influenza virus; it is an acute and extremely infectious disease. The clinical signs are sudden chills and fever with body temperature of 39C or above accompanied by severe headache, aching of the extremities, lumbar pain and general malaise. In the absence of bacterial secondary infection, the total number of leucocytes may be normal or decreased, with relative increase of lymphocytes.

Points:

GB 20 Fengchi or Waidingchuan (Extra point located 1.5 cun lateral to Du 14) (both points are needled bilaterally).

Prescription:

3 - 5 cc of vitamin B1 is injected into each point.

Notes:

Infections of the upper respiratory tract must be distinguished from other communicable diseases.

Source: The Treament of 100 Common Diseases by New Acupuncture, Medicine and Health Publishing Company