Many people go to the hospital to apply summer heat patches in the summer. Are heat patches effective? What diseases can heat patches treat?
Are Heat Patches Effective?
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the three stages of summer heat are the best time for winter diseases to be treated in the summer. It is suitable to take certain measures to prevent the occurrence of diseases during this period. Moreover, during the three stages of summer heat, the body's qi and blood are abundant, and the skin temperature is high, humidity is high, and the pores are open. Using heat patches during this stage makes it easier for the medicine to penetrate acupoints and meridians, thereby improving immunity, relieving diseases, and preventing diseases.
Can Heat Patches Eliminate Dampness?
The three stages of summer heat are the hottest period of the year, and the skin is more loose and porous during this time, which is more conducive to the discharge of cold and dampness. For people with internal dampness and coldness, this is the best time to expel dampness and coldness. It is also the best time for "winter diseases to be treated in the summer."
What Diseases Can Heat Patches Treat?
Heat patches can treat a variety of diseases, mainly some diseases caused by deficiency-cold, such as:
1. Respiratory system diseases: such as asthma, recurrent respiratory infections, chronic bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, and weak colds.
2. Digestive system diseases: abdominal pain, stomach pain, chronic gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, chronic colitis, etc.
3. Menstrual diseases in women: irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, etc.
4. Orthopedic diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, joint pain, frozen shoulder, lumbar muscle strain, etc.
5. Some common "winter diseases", such as chilblains, can also be treated with heat patches.
Of course, not all patients with the above diseases are suitable for heat patches. Pregnant women, patients with severe cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, those allergic to drugs, those with blisters or abscesses on the skin, those with skin damage, and those in the acute phase of the disease, such as fever, coughing, and wheezing, are not suitable.
When is the Best Time to Apply Heat Patches?
Heat patches are generally applied before 11 a.m. on the first day of each stage of the three stages of summer heat. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., which is noon, traditional Chinese medicine believes that this is the time when the body's acupoints and pores are fully open, and if the patch is just applied, the medicine is most easily absorbed into the body.
Can Heat Patches Be Applied in Advance?
Heat patches can be applied in advance as long as they are within the three stages of summer heat. However, it is best to apply them around the first three days of each stage.
How Long Should Heat Patches Be Applied in Each Stage?
In each stage, heat patches only need to be applied once. If the middle stage lasts for 20 days, an additional application can be made after a 10-day interval, and each application should not exceed 2 hours. Therefore, in general, heat patches are applied 3-4 times during the three stages of summer heat, with each application lasting less than a day and less than 2 hours per day, depending on tolerance.
Note: If there are itching, pain, blistering, or other reactions in the local area, the patch can be removed before 2 hours.
It is important to note that "winter diseases treated in the summer" cannot "cure all diseases." Currently, many people have a blind follow-up mentality. It is necessary to be aware that some non-deficiency-cold patients are not suitable for the use of "winter diseases treated in the summer" heat patches for treatment.
What Precautions Should Be Taken When Applying Heat Patches?
1. For adults, apply heat patches for about 2 hours each time. For children and those with delicate skin, reduce the time. After applying the patch, it is advisable to reduce physical activity and try to avoid sweating to prevent the patch from falling off.
2. It is best not to enter a low-temperature air-conditioned environment or expose the patch to direct airflow from a fan or air conditioner to avoid affecting the absorption of the medicine.
3. It is advisable to eat less raw, cold, greasy, and meaty foods to avoid interfering with the effectiveness of the medicine. The applied area should not be soaked in water, scratched, or washed with soap. Swimming should be avoided within two days of applying the patch.
4. After applying the patch, there may be itching or burning sensations in the local area. This is a normal reaction to the medication and there is no need to worry. However, try to avoid blistering to prevent infection.
5. If there is a severe sensation of heat, itching, or burning in the applied area, regardless of the duration of the patch, it should be removed immediately to prevent skin blistering or ulceration. If small blisters appear, there is no need to worry. They can be punctured with a sterile needle and kept clean and hygienic.
6. If there are serious blisters, erythema, or even ulcers in the applied area, keep it clean and seek regular medical treatment immediately.
