The little patient is waiting for the cupping therapy.[Photo/Xinhua]

In fact, Sanfu Days are believed to be a good time to cure some winter ills, such as coughs, asthma and arthritis. Receiving the Sanfutie, or Sanfu medicinal patch, is one of the popular ways to cure such ills.

Sanfutie is a bandage made of traditional Chinese herbal medicine. The treatment is based on traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) principle of yin and yang, which believes the balance of the 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 andneck, they replenish the yang elements.

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