Summer 2025: Dog Days Healing Arts (san fu tie)

 San Fu Tie is a traditional Chinese therapy from the Qing Dynasty. Based on "treating winter illnesses in summer," it involves applying herbal patches to acupuncture points during the hottest days (San Fu days) to rebalance yin and yang, improve qi and blood circulation, and gently regulate internal organ function. This strengthens the body, removes toxins, and unblocks meridians. 

 "Treating winter illnesses in summer" is a core Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principle. It recognizes the body's energy shifts with seasons, especially how yang deficiency contributes to winter ailments. San Fu Tie leverages the peak yang energy of the hottest "San Fu" days to boost the body's defenses, expel cold, and prevent illness recurrence. 

 Possible side effects of San Fu Tie mainly involve localized skin reactions at the application site, such as redness, itching, a burning sensation, or even blisters. Mild, temporary systemic reactions like a slight fever or flu-like symptoms may also occur. These reactions are often considered part of the therapeutic process, but significant discomfort or severe blistering warrants immediate patch removal and proper skin care. 

San Fu Tie targets conditions linked to cold constitution or recurrent issues across various systems. It addresses respiratory (coughs, asthma), digestive (gastritis, indigestion), and musculoskeletal (arthritis, spondylosis) ailments. It's also used for gynecological and pediatric concerns, and to generally strengthen individuals with weak constitutions or low immunity.