Uses:Cold, Flu, Cough, Congestion. Gan Mao Ling, literally "common cold effective remedy" in Chinese, is a Chinese herbal medicine formulated for common cold and flu. It is traditionally used to help relieve symptoms of common cold and flu such as sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, and headache. It is also used to treat acute upper respiratory tract infections, mild bronchitis, tracheitis, and tinsillitis.