Acupoint Herbal Application (Sanfu/Sanjiu Patches)

About this therapy

Acupoint herbal application, or Sanfu patches in summer and Sanjiu in winter, is a TCM external therapy following 'treating winter diseases in summer'. Warming herb paste from white mustard seed, asarum, kansui and corydalis is applied to acupoints like Feishu BL13 on the upper back. It boosts yang qi, warms lungs, dispels cold and strengthens resistance to winter respiratory issues. Suitable for adults and children with allergic rhinitis, asthma or chronic bronchitis, especially yang-deficient types. Offered as preventive outpatient service in Chinese TCM hospitals.

How it works

The herbal paste penetrates skin at acupoints during peak summer yang to regulate lung, spleen and kidney per TCM. It may modulate immunity, reduce inflammation and prevent cold exacerbations. Supported by Chinese consensus and meta-analyses as adjunct for cold-pattern respiratory conditions.

What to expect

Following diagnosis, herbal cakes are placed on 4-8 back/chest acupoints. Patches remain 1-8 hours (shorter for children). Warmth, itching or mild redness may occur. Each visit takes 20-60 minutes. Initial course: 3 applications ~10 days apart during Fu periods, about 1 month. Annual repetition for 3 years recommended. Foreign patients can complete 1-3 visits during Sanfu without long stay, with follow-up summers ideal.

Typical programme

About 30 minutes per session; typically 3 sessions

Cautions

• Avoid in acute fever, infection, or skin ulcers/lesions at application sites.
• Not recommended for pregnant women, breastfeeding individuals, or those with known severe allergy to herbal ingredients (e.g. mustard family).
• Infants under 2-4 years (formula-dependent); children require shorter application time and adjusted dosage.
• Patients with severe cardiopulmonary disease, uncontrolled hypertension or yin deficiency with heat signs should consult carefully.
• Remove immediately if severe burning, large blisters or systemic allergic reaction occurs and seek medical attention.
• Not a substitute for standard medical care; must be prescribed and supervised by licensed TCM physicians.

Often used for

• Allergic rhinitisMeta-analyses of RCTs indicate moderate-quality evidence with bias risks for improved outcomes.
• Bronchial asthma (remission/stable stage)Multiple meta-analyses show reduced exacerbations and improved lung function with high risk of bias.
• Chronic bronchitisClinical studies and expert consensus provide limited-quality evidence mainly from Chinese RCTs.
• Stable COPDGuidelines include it for yang-warming with limited high-quality evidence on symptoms and QoL.
• Recurrent respiratory tract infections in childrenGuidelines recommend it preventively with supportive studies but limited rigorous RCT evidence.
• Chronic cough (winter-exacerbated)Expert consensus supports use in TCM hospitals based on observational data and small trials.
• Constitutional weakness with frequent coldsSupported by TCM principles and practice with limited specific high-level evidence.
• Allergic pharyngitisOffered in ENT departments with evidence from clinical experience and related SRs.