The recovery period after a cold is an important stage, and it needs the right support so the body can get back to its daily rhythm quickly. Every cold is a battle in which “upright qi” (正气 / 正氣, zhèng qì: the body’s power to resist illness) fights hard against “pathogenic qi” (邪气 / 邪氣, xié qì: what causes the illness), and when we get better, it means the “upright” has won over the “pathogenic”. But the upright qi has also been worn down quite a bit.
That is why some symptoms often appear at this stage:
1. Tiredness: You don’t feel like moving much, prefer to sit or lie down, speak softly and don’t feel like talking.
2. Dislike of cold / dislike of heat: A little cold makes you uncomfortable, and a little heat bothers you too. Vietnamese folk wisdom describes it as “can’t stand the sun, can’t bear the rain”.
3. Sweating easily: You sweat more easily than before you were ill.
4. Poor appetite: Food tastes less appealing, and you feel bloated or have indigestion.
So to support your body in the right way, take these steps:
1. Take time to rest: At this stage your body needs a bit more rest than usual. Resting or sleeping more for 1 – 2 days after a cold is normal. Avoid stress and wearing yourself out during these days, and give yourself as much time as you can to rest and relax.
2. Dislike of cold / dislike of heat: Right now your body does not cope well with changes in temperature. If the weather is very hot, drink enough fluids (plain water or Oresol, an oral rehydration solution), wear light, airy clothes, and set the air conditioner no more than about 3°C below the outdoor temperature. For example, if it is 32°C outside, set the air conditioner to 29°C; if it is 30°C outside, set it to 28°C. Too big a gap between the indoor and outdoor temperature can slow your recovery or even bring on a new bout of illness. If the weather is cool or cold, dress warmly enough. Don’t count on your health being strong again, and don’t be careless about going out into the wind.
3. Sweating easily: The upright qi that protects the body has not fully recovered, so practice steady, regular breathing, or add Yu Ping Feng San (a traditional medicine product at Tam Duc Clinic that helps strengthen your resistance and makes you less prone to minor colds when the weather changes) to help your body recover faster.
4. Poor appetite: Eat porridge made from lightly toasted rice (rice toasted until just faintly golden, which makes it less heavy). It keeps your stomach light and is easy to digest. Add a little scallion, a little ginger and one egg yolk (remember to stir it in while the porridge is still hot; don’t eat the yolk runny). Note that at this stage the porridge should be thin and eaten warm or hot, about 1 small bowl each time, without eating too much.
We hope these suggestions help you recover quickly after a cold and get your body back in balance.
Ask your doctor before using this formula, especially if you are pregnant, take other medicines or have a medical condition. See a doctor again if the fever returns, you have trouble breathing, or the cough lingers.
