Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is thousands of years old. The language of that time is still used today to explain how disease effects the body. We didn't know about viruses, bacterias, or fungus, but we did understand the changing of seasons as Windy, Hot, Dry, or Cold. The external pathogen responsible for cold/flu symptoms as seen in invasions of Wind. Most common colds symptoms are common in the change of season in Fall or Spring when the windy weather increases.  "Growing up, my mother would always tell me to put on more clothing before leaving the house, or not to go out with wet hair, so I wouldn't catch wind."

WIND: (1 of 6 External Pathogens)

Our body is protected by a defensive outer layer, Wei-Qi (i.e our immune system). If we are healthy our Wei-Qi is strong and keeps our skin tight preventing Wind from entering.  If we are over-worked, high-stressed, not resting well, eating poorly, or not dressed for the weather our Wei-Qi becomes stressed, which opens our pores allowing Wind to enter the body.  This is why early stage symptoms of the common cold include chills, sensitivity to wind, and body aches as the Wind has entered the top layers of the meridian pathways blocking the energy (Qi).

Chinese herbs used to treat the common cold work as anti-viral/bacterial and also have a diaphoertic (sweating property), which causes Wind to be pushed out of the body.

Read the full article here to learn more about Wind and how it groups with other pathogens like Heat & Cold to create more of a mess in our bodies.