Sanfu Plaster Therapy: How "Treating Winter Illnesses in Summer" Can Transform Your Health
Every year, as midsummer arrives in Hong Kong, many people make special appointments for Sanfu plaster therapy. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this is driven by a core clinical concept known as “treating winter illnesses in summer”.
It suggests that certain chronic conditions which tend to flare up during the winter can actually be prevented or minimized during the hottest months of the year—especially if their underlying root cause is related to yang deficiency and latent cold within the body.
Why Summer is the Best Time to Dispel Body Cold
During summer, external yang qi is abundant, and the circulation of qi and blood through our body's meridians is at its most active peak. Applying warming herbal medicine to specific acupuncture points at this time helps to:
Warm and unblock the body's meridians
Boost internal yang qi
Build a defensive barrier to prepare the body for colder months ahead
✨ Note: Sanfu plaster therapy is not simply a matter of “putting on a patch to dispel cold”. It works through the combined synergy of precise herbal formulation, targeted acupuncture points, and perfect seasonal timing.
The Warming Herbs Behind Sanfu Plasters
At Heal & Glow, our Sanfu plaster therapy utilizes pungent-warm herbs known for their deeply dispersing and penetrating actions, including:
Bai Jie Zi (White mustard seed)
Yan Hu Suo (Corydalis rhizome)
Gan Sui (Kansui root)
Xi Xin (Asarum)
These herbs are ground and prepared into a potent herbal paste, then carefully applied to key acupuncture points such as Feishu (BL13), Dazhui (GV14), and Gaohuang (BL43) to improve a cold-deficiency constitution.
Application Time & Aftercare Protocols
The standard application time varies depending on age and skin sensitivity:
Adults: 2 to 4 hours
Children: 30 minutes to 1 hour
What is a normal reaction? Mild redness, warmth, or a slight tingling and itching sensation around the application site are perfectly normal. However, if you experience burning pain, large blisters, or spreading swelling, remove the plaster immediately and seek professional medical advice. Do not pierce any blisters yourself.
Essential Post-Treatment Care:
On the day of your application, adhere to the following guidelines to protect your yang qi:
Avoid cold showers, swimming, and iced drinks.
Avoid prolonged, direct exposure to cold air-conditioning.
Keep your diet light—steer clear of spicy, deep-fried, seafood, or stimulating foods.
Sanfu plaster therapy is a powerful TCM treatment that must be tailored to your unique body constitution. If you are unsure whether your body pattern is suitable, we highly recommend booking a personalized pulse and tongue assessment with a registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner in Hong Kong.
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