As usual, the people of Quzhou city in East China's Zhejiang province embraced the first day of sanfu on July 11 – both the hottest and dampest time of the year – in their own ways.

In traditional Chinese medicine sanfu is considered a particularly suitable time for treating illnesses and sanfutie, a special treatment, has been used by Chinese people for hundreds of years.

Locals have come to the Quzhou Hospital of TCM for a treatment using sanfutie – a bandage made of traditional Chinese herbal medicine placed at various acupuncture points on the body.

"Sanfutie represents a typical offseason TCM treatment, which during the hot summer treats illnesses related to the cold weather," said Jiang Shuai, the doctor in charge of the hospital's otolaryngology – or ears, nose and throat – department. Amazed by the effects, she recommended the therapy to her family and friends.

Jiang added that the main precautions after a sanfutie treatment include avoiding presenting your full face to cold air conditioning, a light diet and for kids to refrain from swimming.