Burn, patient, burn: China's unusual medical therapy

The so-called 'fire therapy', which proponents claim can cure stress, indigestion, infertility and even cancer, has been used for hundreds of years and recently garnered a blaze of attention in Chinese media.

A therapist pours alcohol over a patient and sets him alight -- for some in China, playing with fire is a treatment for illness.

So-called "fire therapy", which proponents claim can cure stress, indigestion, infertility and even cancer, has been used for hundreds of years and recently garnered a blaze of attention in Chinese media.

There is no orthodox medical evidence that it is effective, a fact that matters little to one of China's most prominent fire therapists.

"Fire therapy is the fourth revolution in human history... it surpasses both Chinese and Western medicine," said Zhang Fenghao, who trains students at a dingy apartment in Beijing and charges around 300 yuan ($48) per hour for treatment.

He applied a herbal paste to a patient's back, covered it with a towel and poured on water and a 95% rubbing alcohol, adding proudly: "Using this method, patients can avoid operations."

The man, Qi Lijun, lay on his front placidly as Zhang flicked a cigarette lighter, igniting a miniature inferno of orange and blue flames dancing above his spine.

"It feels warm, not painful, just warm," said the 47-year-old, who recently suffered a brain haemorrhage that affected his memory and mobility. "I think it's effective."

Many in China cannot afford expensive treatment for chronic ailments and state health insurance is limited, sparking demand for cheaper alternative therapies.

Zhao Jing, 49, who suffers from chronic back pain, had at first been shocked by the idea of the treatment, but added: "After learning everything I don't have fears any more."

The practice is based on Chinese folk beliefs that health depends on maintaining a balance of "hot" and "cold" elements within the body.

The treatment gained renewed public attention this month when photos of a man having fire applied to his crotch went viral on Chinese social media.

"Sir, how well would you like your meat cooked?" joked one microblogger on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo.