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Sanfu moxibustion and a range of other traditional Chinese medicine therapies designed to tackle winter ailments during the summer heat have become more varied in their applications and increasingly popular among the public, medical experts said on Wednesday.

医疗专家在周三称，三伏灸以及一大批用来盛夏调理冬日旧疾的中医疗法，施治方式更加丰富，也受到大众的热烈追捧。

The three hottest stretches of the Chinese lunar calendar are known as sanfu, and this year they run from Wednesday through August 24. In TCM theory, these days offer the ideal window to drive out excess cold from the body and fend off winter illnesses ahead of time.

三伏是农历一年中三段最热的时期，今年三伏从周三持续至8月24日。中医理论认为，三伏是排出体内寒气、提前预防冬季疾病的最佳时机。

Sanfu moxibustion — which involves applying warm herbal plasters to specific acupuncture points — is the best-known example of this approach and is widely used for respiratory conditions.

三伏灸是将温热的中药膏药敷在特定穴位，是冬病夏治最具代表性的疗法，普遍用于呼吸系统疾病调理。

Jiang Zhihui, deputy director of the outpatient department at Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said that as of Tuesday, about 7,000 people had booked appointments for sanfu moxibustion at the hospital — on par with last year and slightly up from 2024.

北京中医医院门诊副主任姜志辉表示，截至周二，已有约7000人预约该院三伏灸，预约人数和去年持平，较2024年略有上涨。

He added that the TCM principle of "treating winter diseases in summer" is now being rolled out in a variety of forms to address different medical needs.

他补充道，“冬病夏治”的中医理念如今衍生多种疗法，以此满足各类诊疗需求。

According to Jiang, this year, the hospital has pooled resources from eight clinical specialties, including respiratory medicine, cardiology, gynecology and pediatrics, to create a comprehensive treatment system that goes beyond herbal plasters to include TCM formulas, herbal balm massage, and other therapies.

姜志辉介绍，今年医院整合呼吸科、心内科、妇科、儿科共八大临床科室资源，搭建综合诊疗体系。治疗方案不再局限于膏药敷贴，还包含中药方剂、药膏推拿等疗法。

Meng