A patient receives a moxibustion patch at a Beijing traditional Chinese medicine hospital on Monday. FANG FEI/CHINA DAILY
As hospitals begin offering a range of Sanfeng Moxibustion services – a traditional Chinese medicine treatment performed on the hottest days of summer to boost immunity against the winter cold – officials and experts stressed that the treatment is only recommended for those with certain respiratory illnesses or weakened immune systems and is not suitable for everyone.
In Chinese, “Sanshu” refers to the hottest times of the year.
Liu Qingquan, director of the Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said sprinkling moxibustion, in which warm herbal medicines are applied to acupressure points, dates back to a traditional Chinese medicine prescription from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and consists mainly of white poppy seeds and dried ginger.
“This therapy was originally used to treat asthma, and it left blisters and marks on the skin at pressure points,” he says, “but now we’ve improved the formulation to reduce the blisters and increase the effectiveness of stimulating the pressure points.”
Liu said spraying moxibustion is one of a series of traditional Chinese medicine approaches aimed at boosting overall health in preparation for the cold season and protecting against winter illnesses. The ingredients in the patches also vary depending on an individual’s health condition and local climate.
“But they are not suitable for everyone. These treatments are recommended for people with asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, allergic rhinitis, those who suffer from recurring colds and those with cold hands and feet,” he said.
This year, China’s hotter than normal period according to the lunar calendar is expected to begin on Monday and last for 40 days.
The Beijing Municipal Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine announced earlier this month that more than 800 medical institutions in the city are qualified to provide moxibustion services.
“The treatment is primarily intended for patients with chronic respiratory diseases and allergic rhinitis, as well as children, the elderly, lethargic people, those who are prone to catching colds and those who cough frequently,” the company said.
He added that there are various types of moxibustion patches available, including those for children over the age of two and adults to remove phlegm, and those for people over the age of four to suppress coughs.
All biological products used in moxibustion therapy must be registered with local drug regulatory authorities.
“Healthcare organizations are prohibited from unfairly expanding the pool of people eligible for treatment for economic gain,” it said.
Hospitals are also reportedly prohibited from using patches that do not contain TCM ingredients, such as infrared patches or magnetic therapy patches, as part of spray moxibustion treatment.
Zhao Yingwen, a 61-year-old Beijing resident, received her first set of spray moxibustion patches on Monday.
“I heard that this therapy is effective in relieving allergic rhinitis,” he says. “Now that I’m retired and have some free time, I decided to give it a try.”
Zhao said the doctor asked about his medical condition and examined his tongue before issuing a prescription.
