China now has entered Zhongfu, the second phase of Sanfu. In the Chinese Lunar Calendar,Sanfurefers to the three 10-day periods that are predicted to be the hottest days of the year, which are calledToufu, Zhongfu and Mofu.

Sanfuis between mid-July to mid-August. Let's take a look at the Chinese traditional ways of spending the dog days of summer.

A citizen receivesSanfutiein Haozhou, Anhui province, July 18, 2014.[Photo by Liu Qinli/asianewsphoto.com]

Receiving theSanfutie

Sanfutie, orSanfumedicinal patch, is a bandage made of traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believe that receivingSanfutieduring the hottest summer days is effective for coughs, asthma andarthritis; it is a patchwork solution for winter ills in summer.

The treatment is based on the TCM principle of yin and yang, which believes the balance of both elements in the body is vital for good health. Sanfutie contains a paste of herbs that are "hot" in nature, and when applied to specific acupuncture points, usually on the back and neck, they replenish the yang elements.

These patches have been used in TCM since earliest recorded times, according toHuangdi Neijing(The Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor), more than 2,000 years ago, the time-tested textbook for TCM practitioners. Sanfu patch treatment became extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and has enjoyed a revival in recent years as more patients turn to TCM treatment.

 

Scenery of Laifeng County in central China's Hubei	1,300-year-old Guangde Temple in Sichuan	Hangzhou residents enjoy noodles during Zhongfu