Most people catch cold because they are cold.

Human beings are naturally hot, warm blooded. Normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Body temperature measures heat, energy produced by the body as it builds up and breaks down. Any temperature, energy production below 98.6, in the extreme, tends to leave the body cold and weak, making it more susceptible to catching a "cold".

Catching a cold is more prevalent in the winter time than any other time of year, except summer (air conditioning). It is also more prevalent among women, children and elderly than men.

The body requires a certain amount of energy to not only build (hold) and fuel but also warm and protect.

All energy is a function of fuel, substance. You cannot have a fire (heat, warmth, energy, light, etc.) without wood, gas, air, etc. The body, immune is system is no different. It also requires fuel. The body mind's four major fuels are air (oxygen), protein, fat and jing (sexual essence). When any of these fuels decline, its overall energy (digestion, respiration, circulation, elimination, immunity, vision, hearing, etc.) also decline.

The body's primary fuel and substance, nutrients are protein and fat (includes cholesterol) found primarily in meat, eggs, chicken, turkey, fish and to a lesser extent, soft dairy, beans, nuts and seeds. Protein and fat build and fuel all structure (organs, bones, brain, blood, sperm, ovum, etc.) and function. All other nutrients (water, minerals, sugar, vitamins, enzymes, etc.) and foods (fruit, vegetables, grains, etc.) reduce, cleanse, cool and moisten.

Protein and fat build not only the bones, organs and nerves but also the skin.

The skin regulates body temperature via the opening and closing of the pores. The opening of the pores allows excess energy, heat to escape, in the form of perspiration, allowing the body to cool. The closing of the pores holds, keeps energy in. so that it does not escape needlessly. All energy, heat moves up and out.

The skin also acts as a defensive shield (closing the pores) in keeping out the six environmental evils (hot, cold, dry, damp, wind and summer heat).

The lungs, according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) not only rule respiration but also the skin and therefore the opening and closing of the pores.

All function (digestion, respiration, circulation, elimination, immunity, memory, etc.) are built and fueled by protein and fat.

Low protein and low fat diets (lacto vegetarian, vegan, raw foods, fruitarian and sproutarian), in the extreme, tend to drain, thin all structure and function including the opening and closing of the pores, leaving them more open than closed; as it take more energy to hold them closed as it does to leave them open. This proves especially disastrous in winter time, allowing cold air to penetrate the skin, neck, muscles, throat, lungs, etc.

Low protein and low fat diets, in the extreme, also tend to thin the body especially the skin, whose thickness can act like a coat in the winter time keeping cold air out and warm air, energy in.

Cold, and or damp air travels with the wind, and usually enters the neck and shoulders, via the pores (if left open, exposed). Wind is light, airy and tends to rise. “Colds” tend to attack the upper part of the body (lungs, shoulders, neck and head). Many mothers tell their children in winter to cover their necks and wear a hat before they go outside. They are not being fashionable, just smart. The following are symptoms of the common cold, mild to severe:

Stage One: Common cold

1. Fever. Cold in excess tends to drain the body's energy, heat, which in turn, forces the body to overheat to regain balance. When the body overheats, it not only burns excess cold but also produces a fever.

2. Itchy throat. Cold in excess reduces drains lung chi, energy, which in turn slows or obstructs the movement of fluids within the lungs, sinuses, throat, etc, which in turn, creates dryness, itchy throat.

3. Cough. The lungs like it moist. Respiration is smooth and easy when the lungs are moist. External cold and damp tends to increase mucous, phlegm, which in turn, clogs the alveoli, bronchial tubes, trachea, etc, impairing and irritating the breath producing shortness of breath and or coughing. Spicy vegetable soups help to reduce mucous and phlegm, improve breathing.

4. Clear, white mucous. Cold in excess tends to slow, thicken and congeal body fluids into mucous and phlegm which in turn can lodge within the lungs, throat, nose sinuses and ears. White and clear are the colors of cold.

5. Stuffy nose. See #4. Environmental cold tends to attack the upper body (head, neck, shoulders and lungs) first before it attacks the lower or middle part of the body.

6. Chest congestion. Cold congeals fluids inside the lungs, chest.

7. Aversion to cold. When you are cold, you fear getting colder. You only crave cold when you are hot. You catch cold because you are cold.

8. Stiff shoulders and neck. The shoulders and neck are irrigated, moistened by blood. Cold in excess tends to slow energy and blood flow to the muscles, tendons and ligaments in the neck and shoulders, making them dry and tight, limiting their range of motion (expansion and contraction) creating pain on exertion.

9. Daytime sweating. The lungs controls the opening and closing of the pores. Environmental cold in excess can weaken, drain the lungs (holding power) causing the pores to be left open allowing heat, energy and fluids (perspiration) to escape. Intermittent daytime sweating is generally a symptom of energy (chi) deficiency (lack of holding). The body is strongest (has the greatest holding power) during the day. Excess heat (coffee, tobacco, alcohol, fried foods, etc.) can cause daytime sweating but more profuse.

10. Tongue has normal thin white coating. The tongue in general is a reflection of the digestive system. Its coating represents the excess of stomach fluids, which naturally overflow onto the tongue causing a thin white coating, which is normal. The common cold initially does not attack the digestive system, i.e. the stomach.

Stage Two: Excess mucous and or phlegm

11. Coughing with mucous (frothy) and or phlegm discharges. Excess cold congeals, thickens water into mucous and phlegm which can lodge in the lungs, sinuses, throat, nose and ears.

12. Splashing sounds in the chest. Excess liquids in the lungs cause splashing sounds.

13. Breathlessness. Excess mucous tends to congest the lungs, which in turn restricts the breath. The lungs are a filter and can easily become clogged with excess mucous and other debris, which decreases oxygen intake, absorption while increasing carbon dioxide. A certain amount of carbon dioxide in the blood is normal as it stimulates the breathing mechanism, which is why it is impossible to hold your breath. The desire to breathe increases as carbon dioxide in the bloodstream increases.

14. Snoring. Excessive water, mucous and or phlegm in the nose, throat and sinuses tends to cause snoring.

15. Sinusitis. Mucous and or phlegm can trap, lodge in the sinuses, making them dry, and in the extreme, inflamed. Spices can be used in cooking, soups to decongest the lungs, sinuses, mucous, phlegm.

16. Bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchi, lungs). Inflammation is caused by dryness. You cannot burn wet wood. Mucous and phlegm can obstruct the flow of blood and fluids within the lungs, bronchi, and in the extreme, causes dryness and inflammation. Spices can be added to the diet, soups, and stews as they are heating and drying, which not only helps to dissolve mucous but also moves blood and body fluids, up and out. Heat rises.

17. Tongue has thick, sticky white coating. A thick, white coating indicates excessive cold and damp.

Stage Three: Chronic Lung Chi deficiency

18. Shortness of breath. Phlegm congestion is generally the cause. The lungs, alveoli are like a balloon. They take in a great amount of air when moderately empty of fluids and less air, shortness of breath when the balloon is half-full of water. The breath is restricted.

19. Asthma. Anything (shortness of breath) can get worse. If you do not remove the cause, input then the effect, output keeps on growing. Cold and phlegm in excess can weaken respiration producing habitual shortness of breath, i.e. asthma.

20. Barking cough with profuse yellow or green mucous. The body, lungs are hot and active. Trapped white, clear mucous and or phlegm within the lungs, sinuses, etc. over time tend to overheat, turn yellow and green as well as hot. Hot mucous is drier, harder and more difficult to dislodge which forces the lungs to violently cough hard, bark in order to dislodge the phlegm. Radishes and turnips can help dissolve mucous.

21. Tongue has red body and thick yellow coat. The thick yellow coat indicates damp heat, which indicates the excessive consumption of hot foods, drinks (red meat, eggs, fried, foods, alcohol, etc.) and or overexposure to hot and damp climates (Southeastern United States).

Symptoms 1- 10 are the initial symptoms of wind cold attacking the lungs. Stage 2 represents a deeper attack. Spleen chi, yang deficiency (stage three) can also be a cause. The spleen is the origin of dampness and the lungs its receptacle. Digestive symptoms (abdominal bloating, loose stools, diarrhea, facial pallor, fatigue, etc.) will occur in addition to lung symptoms if spleen yang is weak, cold. Mushrooms, black fungus, poria and spices can be used in the diet to drain excess mucous and phlegm. Check with your doctor first.

Many of these symptoms, commonly associated with the common cold, can also be produced by a diet that is excessively cold and damp. Too many cooling, damp foods (milk, yogurt, fruit, juice, vegetables, sugar, cold drinks, etc.) can inadvertently cool and moisten the lungs with excess fluids, mucous, phlegm and in the extreme disturb the breath (coughing, shortness, etc.).

The lungs are located above the digestive organs. The fire, heat of digestion, stomach and small intestines, rises up and into the the lungs. This not only heats the lungs but also dissipates fluids.

The lungs are naturally moist. Moisture, water facilitates the exchange of gases, oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and the external environment. Too many cooling, moistening foods, drinks, in the extreme, weaken and dilute digestive fire, acid and enzymes, which in turn, cools and moistens the lungs. Cold condenses. Excess moisture, mucus (cold), phlegm (colder) can clog the alveoli (sacs) reducing gas exchange. Too little moisture, i.e. dryness can collapse the alveoli.

Too many cold, damp foods: Milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream, bread, pasta, cereals, salads, vegetables tropical fruits, juices, shakes, smoothies, ice water, cold drinks, sodas, sugar, etc. in excess tend to cool and dampen digestion (enzymes, acids, stomach, spleen,), elimination (loose stools, diarrhea), respiration (mucous, phlegm, coughing, snoring, sinusitis, sleep apnea, bronchitis, shortness of breath, asthma, pleurisy, pneumonia, etc.) and or weaken the immune system (catch colds easily). Lacto vegetarian, vegan, raw foods, fruitarian and sproutarian diets tend to be cold, damp. Cold in excess slows, cools, hardens and moistens.

In nature, cold in excess, condenses, cools and hardens water into ice and snow, clear and white.

In the body, cold cools, hardens water into clear and white mucous, whether in the lungs, nose, throat, ears, sinuses, etc. The color changes to yellow and green when the body, mucous, phlegm, etc. become overheated, i.e. cooked. Smoking, caffeine and excessive sex tend to dry the lungs as well as everything else.

The common cold in general is easy to cure if you can treat it at the onset (day 1 or 2) with excess heat in the form of spicy (cardamon, cumin, coriander, fennel, cayenne, turmeric, ginger, etc.) soups, hot teas, alcohol, hot baths, extra clothing, etc. You also want to avoid, decrease all cold foods and cold drinks, especially milk (any kind), ice cream, raw vegetables, juice and sugar. The body catches cold because it is cold; therefore, you cure it by doing the opposite, i.e. heat the body (produce a fever and perspiration). Heat in excess destroys cold. There are also herbal remedies, combinations like golden seal and echinacea that are also helpful, successful in defeating the common cold. Check with your doctor first.

Preventing the common cold is fairly easy as long you eat well, maintain energy (eat adequate amounts of protein, fat) in addition to grains, cooked vegetables, spices, fruit, etc. as well as using common sense, i.e. dress appropriately, get plenty of rest, etc.

Women, children and the elderly tend to have less energy than men and are therefore more susceptible to catching cold, from within and without. This is due in large part to hormones. Testosterone is a very hot hormone, hotter than progesterone or estrogen. Hormones in general are very heating. Men also tend to eat hotter diets (high protein, high fat). Women tend to eat low protein, low fat and high carbohydrate diets. They also tend to menstruate, the combination of which, produces less energy, function, digestion, immunity, elimination, etc.