The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Feeling worse after drinking cold drinks can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like feeling worse after drinking cold drinks here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here feeling worse after drinking cold drinks is often associated with feeling of cold, cold limbs and preference for warm drinks and foods in the pattern “Cold invading the Stomach”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of feeling worse after drinking cold drinks we’ve identified that a herbal formula called Liang Fu Wan can help treat the patterns behind the symptom.
Cold invading the Stomach, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause feeling worse after drinking cold drinks
In Chinese Medicine feeling worse after drinking cold drinks is a symptom for the pattern "Cold invading the Stomach". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Cold invading the Stomach
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Tight (Jin)
The Stomach is one of three Organs which can be directly invaded by Exterior Cold (along with the Large Intestine and Uterus). It is an acute condition caused by exposure to cold from improper dressing and excessive consumption of cold foods and iced drinks.
In addition to feeling worse after drinking cold drinks, other symptoms associated with Cold invading the Stomach include feeling of cold, cold limbs and preference for warm drinks and foods.
Cold invading the Stomach is often treated with Liang Fu Wan, a herbal formula made of 2 herbs (including Lesser Galangal Rhizomes - Gao Liang jiang - as a key herb). Liang Fu Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that promote qi movement", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms the Middle Burner".
A herbal formula that might help with feeling worse after drinking cold drinks
Liang Fu Wan
Source date: 1842 AD
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Middle Burner. Dispels Cold. Promotes the movement of Qi. Alleviates Pain.
Why might Liang Fu Wan help with feeling worse after drinking cold drinks?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Cold invading the Stomach' of which feeling worse after drinking cold drinks is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Cold Invading The Stomach include feeling of cold, cold limbs and preference for warm drinks and foods.
The two Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat feeling worse after drinking cold drinks
Why might Lesser Galangal Rhizome (Gao Liang Jiang) help with feeling worse after drinking cold drinks?
Because it is a key herb in Liang Fu Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Cold invading the Stomach' (a pattern with feeling worse after drinking cold drinks as a symptom)
Lesser Galangal Rhizomes is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: For any conditions of Cold in the Middle Burner where there are symptoms such as pain in the abdominal region, vomiting, diarrhea and chronic inflammation in the digestive tract caused by Cold.
Why might Coco-Grass Rhizome (Xiang Fu) help with feeling worse after drinking cold drinks?
Because it is a key herb in Liang Fu Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Cold invading the Stomach' (a pattern with feeling worse after drinking cold drinks as a symptom)
Coco-Grass Rhizomes is a Neutral herb that tastes Bitter, Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Liver and the Sanjiao.
Its main actions are: Unblocks Stagnant Liver Qi and relieves pain. Regulates the Liver and Spleen. Assists the regulation of menses and relieves pain.
Other symptoms often associated with feeling worse after drinking cold drinks
Feeling of cold Cold limbs Preference for warm drinks and foods Nausea