Earth Moon

> I guess what I want to know is what are the symtomatic
>differences between allergies and a cold? Can you get a cold just
>from being cold?

In terms of Chinese Medicine, absolutely.

> Is there REALLY such a thing as just a summer cold
>(a cold that you get every summer)?

Treated TWO this week, actually :P It usually comes with a slight shift in
the weather - a couple of cold days, the first tinge of fall in the air...

> And can you get a cold from
>sleeping under a fan?

Yes, we see this also - in terms of Chinese Medicine (acupuncture, here)
the climatic elements are very very invasive of the body. In the Pacific
NW here we treat cold and damp related illneses almost exclusively!

As for discrimating between cold and allergies, the easiest way to tell is
simply length of time - does go on without getting worse/going deeper into
the body (lungs etc) and eventually fade away? Or does it progress through
a bunch of symptoms over a week to 10 days and then you get better?
HTH, though I can't support your thesis :P
earthmoon

>I don't believe these wives tails about colds
>but DH does. I just need to hear from someone else that they are not
>true. Oh, DH is convinced that the nurse is wrong and that he caught
>his "cold" from me and our son. Corallyn

Corallyn

Okay, this is OT but I need some help settling a debate between DH
and me. I have been diagnosed by my OB's nurse with allergies. My
1yos has the same symptoms so I assume that what he has is allergies
as well. I guess what I want to know is what are the symtomatic
differences between allergies and a cold? Can you get a cold just
from being cold? Is there REALLY such a thing as just a summer cold
(a cold that you get every summer)? And can you get a cold from
sleeping under a fan? I don't believe these wives tails about colds
but DH does. I just need to hear from someone else that they are not
true. Oh, DH is convinced that the nurse is wrong and that he caught
his "cold" from me and our son. Corallyn