Wind-cold and wind-heat can both cause a runny nose and phlegm, so it is impossible to determine whether it is wind-cold or wind-heat, but you can determine whether it is wind-cold or wind-heat by the character of the snot and phlegm. Wind-cold usually results in clear runny nose and thin, white phlegm, while wind-heat results in cloudy, yellowish runny nose and thick, yellowish phlegm.
In addition to snot and phlegm, the following characteristics can also help determine wind-cold or wind-heat. Wind cold is characterized by severe malignant cold (fear of cold), mild fever, no sweating, nasal congestion, itchy nose and sneezing, thin white tongue coating, and floating tight pulse. Wind-heat is characterized by significant fever, slight malignant wind, sweating, red face, headache, sore throat, dry mouth, yellowish tongue, and floating pulse.
Wind-cold and wind-heat need to be judged by a professional Chinese medicine doctor after the four diagnoses are combined, and should be avoided on one’s own.