Put the prescribed herbs into a pot or basin, add water and make it boiling. First, use the hot decoction to fumigate the diseased part, when the temperature of the decoction gets lower, use it to soak and bathe the diseased part. In winter, a towel or cotton pad may be used on the affected limb for keeping the heat. At the same time of fumigating and bathing, let the affected limb do functional exercise for enhancing the effect. The time for each fumigating and bathing ranges from 20 to 30 minutes, 2 to 4 times daily.

Fumigating and bathing medicine has the actions of soothing the tendons and joints, relieving the striae, promoting flow of qi and blood and stopping pain. It is suitable for the rigidity, spasm, soreness, pain, numbness of joints; or the old trauma accompanied by invasion of pathogenic wind, cold and dampness. It is mostly used for joints of extremities, but for lower back it should be chosen according to the concrete condition. The commonly used recipes are Haitongpi Decoction, Shujin Huoxue Lotion, Shangzhi Shunsang Lotion, and Xiazhi Shunsang Lotion, etc.