冬病夏治 天灸療法 Tian Jiu therapy – Treat winter disease in summer
中醫常說「春夏養陽，秋冬養陰」，炎熱的夏季來臨了，又是溫養陽氣的好時機，簡單的養陽方法如三伏天灸，是選擇在一年當中最炎熱的時間進行，特別適合易患虛寒病症的朋友，要把握機會了。
There is a saying in Chinese medicine, “Nourishing yang in spring and summer, nourishing yin in autumn and winter”. With the hot summer approaching, it is now time to warm and nourish yang-qi. A simple way to do so is San-Fu Tian Jiu on the hottest days in the year. For those who easily get deficient cold illnesses, seize the opportunity now!
天灸有別於針灸 Tian Jiu differs from acupuncture
過往有朋友見到天灸的宣傳單張，以為要用針具針刺穴位，隨即表示害怕，其實針灸與天灸是完全不一樣的療法。
Some may feel nervous about Tian Jiu when they come across leaflets about it because they think Tian Jiu involves pricking the skin with needles on acupoints. Tian Jiu and acupuncture are however totally different therapies.
天灸屬於穴位敷貼療法，採用辛溫通络藥物，如白芥子、細辛、甘遂、延胡索等製成外敷膏藥，貼敷於特定穴位表面，刺激穴位，達到溫經散寒的效果，並可以減少虛寒性疾病例如過敏性鼻炎、氣喘的發作，達到「冬病夏治」的目標。
Tian Jiu is a therapy that makes use of preparation made of pungent, warm-natured and collateral dredging medicines such as white mustard seed, Manchurian wildginger herb, gansui root and yanhusuo tuber. Such preparation is applied on specific acupoints topically to stimulate the acupoints. It brings about the effect of warming channels for dispelling cold, as well as reducing the exacerbation of deficient cold illnesses such as nasal allergies and asthma, “treating winter disease in summer”.
敷貼後皮膚有反應是好事 Skin
reactions following the application are positive
天灸療法，又稱發泡療法，是使用對皮膚有刺激性的藥物敷貼於穴位，使局部皮膚自然充血、潮紅或起泡，甚至化膿，有如灸瘡。這些都是正常反應，雖然我們不是要追求嚴重的灸瘡，但也應該接受這些皮膚反應：發紅、灼熱、瘙癢、疼痛、起泡、色素沉著。現代人往往因為美觀的考慮而不欲皮膚有太刺激的反應，那也可以縮短敷貼時間來遷就。但在醫師的角度而言，療效會是優先的考慮。
Tian Jiu therapy is also called blistering therapy. It applies medicines stimulative to skin at the acupoints, causing hyperemia, flushing, blisters or even purulence on the skin surrounding. These are all normal reactions. While we are not aiming at serious blisters, we shall bear skin reactions including redness, burning sensation, itchiness, pain, blistering and pigmentation if we receive Tian Jiu therapy. People nowadays may not prefer remarkable skin reactions because of aesthetic consideration. To do so, they can shorten the duration of application. From the perspective of a practitioner, however, efficacy is given a higher priority.
你適合做天灸療法嗎？Does Tian Jiu therapy suit you?
一般來說，天灸療法的適用於虛寒體質的三歲以上兒童及成人。有效改善氣喘、過敏性鼻炎、慢性支氣管炎、容易感冒、畏寒等病證。
In general, Tian Jiu therapy is suitable for adults and children above 3 years of age with deficient cold constitution. It is effective in improving diseases and syndromes such as asthma, nasal allergies, chronic bronchitis, frequent common cold and intolerance of cold.
相反地，如果當天患有感冒、發熱、咽痛；平素皮膚容易過敏及易留疤痕；患嚴重心臟病或其他疾病；孕婦以及三歲以下嬰兒都不宜接受穴位敷貼療法。詳情請諮詢註冊中醫師再作相應選擇。
On the contrary, topical therapies on acupoints are not suitable for those who are suffering from common cold, fever, sore throat on treatment day, whose skin is sensitive and prone to scarring, who have serious heart disease or other illnesses, or who are pregnant or below 3 years of age. Please consult a registered Chinese medicine practitioner for details before you make a choice.
屈臣氏中醫師團隊
Watsons Chinese Medicine Team
