"Cold and cough, please use Jizhi syrup" is a commonly heard slogan in TV commercials. However, not all colds and coughs can be treated with "Jizhi syrup".
From a TCM perspective, Jizhi syrup is suitable for patients with "wind-heat invading the lungs" or "phlegm-heat obstructing the lungs", which are usually characterized by cough with yellow phlegm, red and hot face, chest tightness, thirst with desire to drink, short and red urine, red tongue with yellow coating, and rapid pulse.
However, for patients with wind-cold colds or coughs caused by lung coldness or phlegm-dampness obstructing the lungs, symptoms such as coughing with clear and thin phlegm or foamy phlegm, clear runny nose, no fever or thirst, pale face, aversion to cold, long and clear urine, thin white or greasy tongue coating, and tight or slippery pulse, the treatment with Jizhi syrup may be ineffective.
