Don't Blindly Follow "Treating Winter Illnesses in Summer"
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), summer is the period of the year with the most abundant Yang energy. The body's pores are open, making it an ideal time to use acupuncture on acupoints combined with moxibustion to expel wind, cold, and dampness, and to enhance the body's immunity. It is particularly effective for children who frequently catch colds and have recurrent coughing and wheezing in cold weather.
Some adult diseases that frequently occur in winter, such as bronchitis, bronchial asthma, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, senile chills, and TCM-related diseases of a deficient and cold spleen and stomach, can also be treated "in summer for winter illnesses." However, these conditions require individualized treatment. For instance, coughing and wheezing are categorized into types such as Cold Phlegm Invading the Lungs, Lung Qi Deficiency, and Yin Fluid Deficiency, each caused by different etiologies. Only the "Cold Phlegm Invading the Lungs" type of coughing and wheezing will achieve significant results when treated with the "winter illness, summer treatment" method.
"Treating winter illnesses in summer" primarily uses Chinese herbal patch application. The application period is during the "Sanfu" days of summer, specifically three days each for the initial, middle, and final "fu" days of the year, with three consecutive years of external application constituting one course of treatment. For children, the patch should be applied for 2 to 4 hours each time. If there is significant local pain or a burning sensation, the patch can be removed at any time. On the day of application, avoid air conditioning and electric fans, and do not consume cold beverages. During the "Sanfu" period, be careful to prevent colds.