Every Summer, I gave an herbal treatment known as “San Fu Tie” for seasonal allergies and strengthening overall immune system on specific three days during the summer. Many of my patients found it helpful and kept them away from catching cold and allergies for the coming year.

According to Oriental Medicine, also known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), our human body is a mini-universe. Ideally we should allow our body to run in accordance to the nature. Many of the treatment principals of TCM are based on the natural law of the universe. Ancient TCM practitioners strongly believe there are best timing of the day and the best days in the year to treat certain conditions. However, due to the life style of the modern society, modern TCM practitioners don’t really incorporate those principles in our clinical practice.

What is “San Fu Tie”?
“San Fu Tie” literally means three herbal patches in Chinese. It is a type of treatment that ancient TCM practitioners used to treat winter diseases on three specific days in the summer according to the lunar calendar.

What does it mean by “winter diseases”? It means the popular health conditions during the winter time. In the winter, because of the cold and wind, people are more vulnerable in catching common cold. We all know when we have stronger immune system, we are less vulnerable to catching common cold. In TCM theories, this type of treatment is really focused on boosting our immune system, and strengthening lung functions. Therefore, these treatments are good for people who suffer seasonal allergies, any conditions related to weakened immune system, asthma or other diseases associated with weakened lung function.

Those three treatments could be on any day during the following periods in the summer. They are supposed to have the most heat and yang energy in the universe. It also means on those days, our body has the most heat and yang energy as well. Therefore, it would be the perfect days to treat the following conditions:

• Always feel cold, worse in the winter
• Asthma
• Easily catching common cold
• Suffer from seasonal allergies
• Coughing with clear mucus all the time
• Having diarrhea all the time, cold hands and feet always
• Sinusitis
• Chronic bronchitis
• Any conditions you always have every winter

This year, the following days are the best period for these three treatments:

• 1st treatment: July 17 – July 26 (10 days)
• 2nd Treatment: July 27 – August 15 (20 days)
• 3rd Treatment: August 16 – August 25 (10 days)

You could have the treatments on any day during these three periods. It’s recommended to have three treatments over three consecutive summers, which, over time, can significantly reduce the severity of symptoms, and possibly even cure any regular health problems that you suffer during the winter time.

Lifestyle and Diet during these three periods:

• Please avoid: cold, greasy food, seafood, alcohol, cigarettes
• Recommend to drink ginger tea in the morning