Explainer | This traditional Chinese medicine treatment boosts immunity against winter ills like colds, flu, allergies and respiratory illness
- San fu moxibustion is performed on the hottest three days of summer, according to the Chinese lunar calendar, to store ‘yang’ energy in advance of winter
- No needles are involved – plasters containing a warm herbal paste are applied to acupressure points, usually on the upper back
The three hottest summer days in the Chinese lunar calendar are known as san fu – and the first one is on July 16.
According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), these are the best days to harness the summer heat to expel excess cold from our body and ward off winter diseases well in advance.
Practitioners use a treatment known as moxibustion, which is a common practice in Eastern medicine, popular in China, Japan, Tibet, Vietnam, Korea and Mongolia.
What is the thinking behind san fu moxibustion?
The concept behind the treatment is to capture some of the strongest yang energy of the year and store it to boost our immunity and prepare for autumn when colds and flu, allergies, and respiratory illness are more prevalent.
According to TCM, it prevents illness and provides resilience against the cold pathogens of the winter season by balancing yin and yang.
[Dispelling] symptoms of long Covid such as brain fog, phlegmy cough, dizziness and diarrhoea … can be optimally done during the san fu days through moxibustion
Calculated using the Chinese Lunar calendar, in 2022 the three san fu days fall on July 16, July 26 and August 15. On these days, according to TCM, blood vessels are at their most dilated.