Scallion White and Dried Ginger: A Highly Effective Remedy for Colds

Many people today suffer from sub-optimal health; what should be done if one catches a chill due to a lack of caution during the autumn and winter months? A "wind-cold" cold is an extremely common ailment. During seasonal transitions, fluctuating temperatures make people highly susceptible to wind-cold pathogens, which trigger the onset of a cold.

The most distinct symptoms of a cold caused by cold pathogens are chills, accompanied by a clear runny nose and sneezing. However, when seeking treatment, many people rely excessively on chemical medications while overlooking natural remedies readily available to us. Let us discuss how to address a cold in a healthy way: if a cough produces white, easily expectorated phlegm, the focus should be on warming and nourishing lung *qi*. For those with a cough, *Tongxuan Lifei Wan* (a traditional pill) can be purchased at pharmacies; it is effective for dispelling cold, ventilating the lungs, and relieving coughs, making it suitable for the early stages of a wind-cold cold. Of course, there is also a simple home remedy available.

First, let us understand what a wind-cold cold is. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is viewed as an illness caused by the invasion of the body by wind-cold pathogens, manifesting as symptoms such as aversion to cold, fever, headache, and a runny nose. Treatment strategies in TCM focus on dispelling wind and cold, as well as inducing sweating to release the pathogen from the body's surface, thereby eliminating the wind-cold influence.

Next, let us introduce the stars of today's remedy: *Congbai* (scallion white stalk) and *Ganjiang* (dried ginger). These are key ingredients in "Baitong Tang" (White Unblocking Decoction), a classic formula by the "Medical Sage" Zhang Zhongjing. While the original formula contains three ingredients, treating a common wind-cold cold requires only two: the white section of the scallion (near the root) and dried ginger. Scallion white stalk is warm in nature and pungent in flavor; it promotes sweating to release the exterior, dispels wind, and scatters cold. Dried ginger is also warm and pungent; its primary functions are warming the middle burner to dispel cold and restoring *yang* energy to reverse critical conditions. Combining these two ingredients allows for the dispersal of cold pathogens. Their warm, pungent properties help drive out wind-cold pathogens from the body. Simultaneously, they stimulate sweating, enabling the expulsion of internal cold and thereby alleviating symptoms such as chills and fever. Furthermore, dried ginger warms the middle burner and dispels cold, offering relief for gastrointestinal discomfort associated with wind-cold colds. Thus, this combination is highly effective for treating wind-cold colds.

【Preparation】 Take a section of scallion white stalk—including the rootlets—roughly the length of your middle finger, and cut it into several smaller pieces. Take 8–10 grams of dried ginger (available at pharmacies). Place both the dried ginger and the scallion white stalk in water and bring to a boil; simmer for 10–15 minutes. Drink the decoction while warm, then cover yourself with a blanket to induce sweating.