Meaning:

    “天” means “weather,” and “灸” refers to “acupuncture.” This traditional Chinese medicine treatment, known as “acupoint herbal patching,” is an alternative treatment that applies herbal patches to certain acupoints during the hottest and the coldest time of the year. The method is said to be effective in treating diseases like allergic rhinitis, faucitis and asthma. Doctors will suggest patients get herbal patches three to five times in summer and winter respectively. The past two days are a time window to apply the treatment.

    Example:

    A: 你试过天灸吗？

    Nǐ shìguò tiānjīu ma?

    Have you ever tried acupoint herbal patching?

    B: 试过，可是我是过敏体质，所以中药过敏了。你呢？

    Shìguò, kěshì wǒ shì guòmǐn tǐzhì, suǒyǐ zhōngyào guòmǐn le。Nǐ ne?

    Yes. But I am prone to be allergic and suffered allergy to the herbal medicines. How about you?

    A: 昨天第一次贴，还不知道效果。

    Zuótiān dìyīcì tiē, hái bù zhīdào xiàoguǒ。

    I tried it the first time yesterday, not sure how effective it will be.

    B: 不是一下子就有效果，据说要贴好几年。

    Bùshì yīxiàzi jìu yǒu xiàoguǒ, jùshuō yào tiē hǎojǐnián。

    It takes time and people say you have to stick to the treatment for several consecutive years.