Can the Sanfu Patch help with chronic fatigue?

Aug 07, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Sun Lianqing

Introduction

In general, the Sanfu Patch (Three伏贴) may be helpful for long-term fatigue caused by physical weakness and insufficient yang energy, but it is less effective for chronic fatigue caused by excessive fatigue or excessive mental stress. To relieve long-term fatigue, it is important to maintain a reasonable daily routine, avoid staying up late and overexertion, and engage in regular physical activity to improve overall physical health.

Generally, the Sanfu Patch (Three伏贴) can be helpful for long-term fatigue caused by physical weakness or insufficient yang energy, but it has limited effect on chronic fatigue caused by overexertion or excessive mental stress. Detailed analysis is as follows:

If long-term fatigue is due to physical weakness, insufficient yang energy, or chronic cold deficiency diseases, the Sanfu Patch may help improve the fatigue condition to some extent by applying warm-natured medications to specific acupoints, thus supporting yang energy and regulating organ function. In such cases, persisting with the full course of treatment and combining it with lifestyle adjustments may help alleviate fatigue.

However, if long-term fatigue results from excessive exertion, excessive mental stress, sleep deprivation, or similar factors, the Sanfu Patch typically cannot produce significant effects directly. This type of fatigue should primarily be addressed through adjustments in daily routines, stress relief, and ensuring sufficient sleep. Relying solely on the Sanfu Patch cannot resolve the underlying issues.

To relieve chronic fatigue, one should maintain a reasonable daily schedule, avoid staying up late and overexertion, and keep a regular exercise routine to enhance physical health. Additionally, maintaining a balanced diet to supply necessary nutrients and cultivating a positive and optimistic mindset are equally important.

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Are the Sanfu herbal patches effective for lung diseases?

For patients in the remission phase of chronic bronchitis, asthma, and similar conditions, the Sanfu贴 (herbal patch application during the three hottest periods of summer) may help regulate bodily functions, reduce the frequency of disease recurrence, and improve daily respiratory status by stimulating specific acupoints with medicinal ingredients. However, this regulatory effect requires long-term adherence to become evident. On the other hand, for acute pulmonary diseases such as pneumonia or pulmonary infection, or during acute exacerbations of chronic conditions, the Sanfu贴 is unlikely to effectively control symptoms.

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Are the Sanfu herbal patches effective for prolonged cough that does not resolve?

In general, whether the Sanfu Patch is effective for prolonged cough without healing depends on the specific circumstances. It may have some effect on prolonged cough caused by deficiency-cold, but typically has no significant effect on prolonged cough due to heat conditions. To better improve prolonged cough, daily management should be combined with symptom characteristics. For prolonged cough caused by deficiency-cold, the Sanfu Patch can be used under professional guidance, while keeping warm and avoiding cold exposure.

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Is the Sanfu Patch effective in enhancing immunity?

Under normal circumstances, the Sanfu Patch (Three伏贴) has a certain auxiliary effect in enhancing immunity, although the effectiveness may vary from person to person, and it should be used appropriately according to individual conditions. The Sanfu Patch is a commonly used method in traditional Chinese medicine for treating winter diseases in summer. It involves applying medicinal patches to specific acupuncture points during the hottest days of summer, utilizing the abundant yang energy of summer to stimulate the body's yang energy and regulate organ function.

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Do the Sanfu herbal patches help with rheumatic diseases?

If rheumatic disease is in the remission stage, and the main manifestations are joint sensitivity to cold and worsening symptoms upon exposure to cold, and if the skin is tolerant to the ingredients of the herbal patch, following the prescribed course of treatment may help alleviate discomfort slightly by regulating local qi and blood circulation through warm stimulation. In such cases, it can provide some support in regulating the body's condition. However, for acute exacerbations or severe rheumatic disease, it is unlikely to produce significant improvement.