As Hong Kong transitions from winter to spring, many residents find themselves battling persistent coughs and sore throats. Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner Dr. Leo Cho, Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Association, offers a comprehensive guide to understanding cough causes, identifying cough types by phlegm colour, and using targeted soup remedies for relief.
Understanding Seasonal Cough
According to Dr. Cho, seasonal coughs often stem from environmental shifts in humidity and temperature. The move from dry winter air to damp spring conditions can irritate the respiratory tract. Spicy foods, post-viral infections causing nasal drip, and lingering mucus in the airways also trigger coughing episodes.
Cough duration varies widely. While many experience symptoms for just a few weeks, chronic cases—particularly among elderly individuals—can persist for half a year or longer. Notably, these prolonged coughs are not classified as chronic in medical terms but still require proper attention.
Four Cough Types According to TCM
From a TCM perspective, coughs fall into four main categories:
- Cold cough (寒咳) – Symptoms include clear or white phlegm, chills, and aversion to cold
- Heat cough (熱咳) – Characterised by yellow or green phlegm, feverish sensations, and thirst
- Dry cough (乾咳) – No phlegm production, with a tickly, scratchy throat
- Deficiency cough (虛咳) – Weak, low-volume coughing often seen in elderly or chronically ill patients
Each type requires a different treatment approach. Misdiagnosis can worsen symptoms—for example, using ginger for a heat cough may aggravate inflammation.
Phlegm Color as a Diagnostic Tool
Phlegm appearance offers valuable clues:
- White or clear phlegm – Typically indicates a cold-type cough
- Yellow or green phlegm – Signals heat or infection
- Thick, sticky phlegm – Suggests dampness or phlegm-dampness syndrome
Identifying phlegm characteristics helps determine whether the underlying imbalance is cold, heat, or dampness-based.
Key Acupressure Points for Relief
Dr. Cho recommends two primary acupoints for cough relief:
- Tian Tu (CV22) – Located at the centre of the suprasternal notch. Rather than pressing, apply moxibustion or warm ginger slices to stimulate this point
- He Gu (LI4) – Found on the back of the hand between the thumb and index finger. Firm pressure here can temporarily suppress coughing
These points provide symptomatic relief but do not address root causes. Dr. Cho emphasises that determining the cough type is essential for effective treatment.
Four Soothing Soup Recipes
Dr. Cho shares four simple, kitchen-friendly remedies tailored to different cough types:
1. Lily and Pear Water (for general cough)
- Ingredients: 9g dried lily bulb, 1 pear
- Method: Simmer ingredients in water until soft. Suitable for dry coughs and throat irritation.
2. Luo Han Guo Drink (for heat cough)
- Ingredients: 1 Luo Han Guo (monk fruit)
- Method: Wash and crush the fruit. Boil in water for 5 minutes on high heat, then simmer 10 minutes. Steep covered for 10 minutes before drinking. Avoid if cough is cold-type.
3. Ginger Water (for cold cough)
- Ingredients: 6 slices fresh ginger, 9g bitter apricot kernel (xing ren)
- Method: Simmer with 6 bowls of water down to 2 bowls. Note: Bitter apricot kernel must be cooked thoroughly to neutralise toxicity.
4. Strengthening Lung and Spleen Soup (general phlegm cough)
- Ingredients: Codonopsis (dang shen) 3 qian, Atractylodes (bai zhu) 3 qian, Poria (fu ling) 3 qian, Tangerine peel (chen pi) 3 qian, Chinese yam (huai shan) 3 qian, 1–2 honey dates
- Method: Simmer all ingredients. This balanced formula tonifies the lungs and spleen while resolving phlegm.
The Honey Debate
A common question is whether honey helps coughs. Dr. Cho clarifies: honey is effective for dry, irritated throats—especially for people who speak frequently. However, if the throat is congested with phlegm, honey may not be appropriate and could worsen symptoms.
Expert Advice and Next Steps
Dr. Cho, who holds dual honours degrees in Chinese Medicine and Biomedical Sciences from Hong Kong Baptist University, stresses that understanding your cough type is the first step toward safe self-care. While these home remedies offer relief, persistent or severe symptoms warrant professional consultation.
For further reading, explore related articles on white-coloured foods for lung health, additional Luo Han Guo recipes, and autumn-winter soup guides to strengthen immunity against seasonal ailments.