As midsummer arrives, some advocate "treating winter ailments in summer" by seeking out hospitals for "Sanfu Plasters." These plasters show promising efficacy for chronic winter conditions affecting respiratory and digestive systems, as well as wind-cold disorders. However, summer treatment for winter ailments varies by individual and isn't suitable for everyone. Below we detail contraindications for Sanfu Plasters—read on if you're curious.
The "Three-Fervent Plasters" originate from the Qing Dynasty text Zhang's Medical Compendium, which documented the white mustard seed blister therapy.The medicated paste primarily consists of pungent-warm herbs like ephedra, white mustard seed, and glycyrrhiza, which disperse cold. It is applied to acupoints on the back—such as the lung shu, heart shu, and diaphragm shu points—on the first day of the initial, middle, and final periods of the three dog days. This aims to boost yang energy and ultimately achieve the goal of "treating winter ailments in summer."
"The Three-Fold Heat Plasters are not a 'cure-all' for every ailment; they primarily target individuals with chronic cough, phlegm, wheezing, and a cold-deficient constitution." Experts indicate that when applied to the respiratory system, these plasters are particularly effective in preventing respiratory diseases triggered by cold exposure in autumn and winter, such as asthma and chronic bronchitis.During the height of summer, when external heat and intense sunlight prevail and internal yang energy is at its peak, employing traditional Chinese medicine therapies to nourish and warm yang energy can more effectively help patients with cold deficiency expel accumulated cold from the body. When discussing treating winter ailments in summer, many immediately think of the Three-Fold Heat Plasters. In fact, other methods like moxibustion with moxa sticks on acupoints, cupping therapy, gua sha, and medicinal diets are also important treatments that enhance the efficacy of summer therapy.
Additionally, the "Three-Fold Heat Plasters" are applied consecutively for three days during each of the three hottest periods of summer. Three acupoints are treated daily, with the plasters removed after six hours, totaling 36 applications. Commonly used acupoints include Tiantu (CV17), Feishu (BL13), Shanzhong (CV17), and Dazhui (GV14).
Contraindications for Sanfu Plasters
While Sanfu Plasters are suitable for treating deficiency-cold pattern diseases, certain patients within this category should avoid them. Six major groups are unsuitable for Sanfu Plaster therapy: individuals experiencing severe symptoms of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease, those with hemoptysis, pulmonary tuberculosis, fever, severe skin allergies, and children under two years of age.
Experts note, "For instance, patients with coughing and wheezing accompanied by yellow phlegm, hemoptysis, or fever, as well as those with active tuberculosis involving hemoptysis, should not undergo Sanfu Plaster therapy. Additionally, individuals with extreme sensitivity to the plaster ingredients, severe cardiopulmonary dysfunction, bronchiectasis, contact dermatitis or other skin conditions, and pregnant women are unsuitable candidates."
Furthermore, the proportion of children receiving the patches has increased annually in recent years. While the "Three-Fervent Patches" do enhance immunity in children with yang deficiency constitutions, infants under two years old should not undergo the treatment. Their skin is too delicate to tolerate the medication's irritation, and young children lack the ability to communicate discomfort, compromising treatment safety.