1. Precautions for Moxibustion: While moxibustion is beneficial, it is crucial not to perform it blindly.
1. You should wait 2 hours after moxibustion before taking a shower. It is best to shower and dry your body before performing moxibustion. Avoid washing hands with cold water, drinking cold beverages, or eating cold foods, including fruits.
2. Avoid moxibustion when overly hungry or full, or excessively fatigued. Do not perform moxibustion on an empty stomach or after a large meal. Wait 40 minutes after moxibustion before eating; wait 40 minutes after eating before performing moxibustion.
3. Never use air conditioning during moxibustion! A fan should not blow directly on the person receiving moxibustion; it can blow towards the door or window. Avoid moxibustion in drafty areas.
4. Do not perform moxibustion while soaking your feet! It is best to do moxibustion after soaking your feet.
5. After moxibustion, seal the acupuncture points and dress warmly.
6. During and after moxibustion, avoid exposure to wind and cold. Pay special attention to keeping the neck, lower back, abdomen, and feet warm. The heat from moxibustion opens the pores, making it easy for cold and pathogenic factors to invade if not properly protected.
7. Limit moxibustion sessions to no more than 90 minutes. For the elderly and children, it is best to keep it under 45 minutes.
8. Pregnant women may perform moxibustion if necessary, such as for abnormal fetal position or for those prone to miscarriage, but only under strict guidance from a qualified instructor.
9. For individuals who have just undergone surgery, the appropriateness of moxibustion depends on the nature of the surgery. It is generally not advisable to perform moxibustion after major surgeries; if done, it should be gradual and in small amounts. Typically, moxibustion can be resumed 2 months after major surgery to help restore vitality; for minor outpatient surgeries, moxibustion can usually be resumed after 2 weeks.
10. During the moxibustion process, it is best to treat one acupuncture point at a time. Some individuals may tolerate moxibustion on two or more points simultaneously. If discomfort occurs during this method, stop immediately.
2. Why do some people experience a temporary worsening of symptoms after moxibustion?
Answer: It is common to experience a temporary worsening of symptoms after moxibustion; this is a normal phenomenon of the battle between the body’s righteous qi and pathogenic factors. When you use moxibustion to stimulate the righteous qi to expel the pathogenic factors, the latter may initially resist vigorously. At this time, if the righteous qi is insufficient and the pathogenic factors are strong, various discomforts may arise.
As you continue with moxibustion and accumulate more righteous qi in your body, the pathogenic factors will gradually be expelled.
3. Moxibustion Timing
Moxibustion can be performed all year round!
Daytime moxibustion is preferable; nighttime moxibustion is also acceptable! However, prolonged nighttime moxibustion may harm yin, so it is advisable to also apply moxibustion on some yin-nourishing points (Yongquan (Kidney 1), Taixi (Kidney 3), Sanyinjiao (Spleen 6)) to mitigate this issue.
4. Question: Is moxa smoke harmful?
Answer: Moxa smoke is non-toxic and harmless.
Many people worry that the smoke from moxibustion may affect the respiratory system!
During the burning of moxa sticks, most of the essential oils from the mugwort are volatilized with the smoke, thus moxa smoke can actually be beneficial to the body.
5. Question: How to perform moxibustion for gynecological diseases?
Answer: Focus on moxibustion at the Guanyuan (Ren 4) point, which can thoroughly eliminate blood stasis and tumors (fibroids) in the uterus; it is also highly effective for pelvic inflammatory disease and adnexitis; for patients with cold and deficient infertility, it can lead to a cure. Moxibustion at Guanyuan has a remarkable effect in stopping leukorrhea. It can be said that moxibustion at Guanyuan can almost cure all gynecological diseases.
6. Moxibustion Blisters
Blisters from moxibustion can either be burns or moxibustion flowers; the best way to treat them is to apply sesame oil mixed with moxa ash!
If the blister is small, you can leave it alone; if it is large, you can puncture it with a sterilized needle and then apply moxa ash.
Every day, many fans message or comment to consult me about moxibustion issues. In the future, I will specifically answer everyone’s questions at the end of each article, so feel free to leave comments!
1. Question: What should I do if I have liver qi stagnation, weak liver and gallbladder detoxification function, and feel depressed with a constant sense of heat?
Perform abdominal massage twice daily for 10 minutes each; at night, tap the inner thigh for 10 minutes on each side; and tap the Zhongfu (Lung 1) point for 10 minutes whenever possible. Doing these three methods diligently every day will be very beneficial.
2. Question: Hello, teacher, my son is 10 years old and has had knee pain about 10 times a year for the past few years. He feels better after taking a little ibuprofen, but the pain returns after a while. What could be the reason? Thank you.
This is likely growing pains; moxibustion at the Shenzhu (Bladder 10) point can help. Alternatively, regularly moxibustion at the Shenzhu and the navel for 15 minutes each, 2-3 times a week, is very effective for boosting immunity, promoting growth, and strengthening the spleen and stomach!
3. Question: During the postpartum period, I experienced significant night sweats leading to soreness and swelling in my lower limbs. How should I adjust?
Night sweats occur when sweating during sleep; therefore, during breastfeeding, it is essential to drink plenty of warm water. The soreness and swelling in the lower limbs are not directly related to night sweats, but you can tap or moxibustion at the Chengshan (Bladder 57) point for 20 minutes on each side.
4. Question: I am in my 30s and have had knee pain for 2 years, possibly due to a meniscus injury, and I feel fluid accumulation, with daily soreness and discomfort. How should I treat this?
Directly moxibustion on the affected area for 30 minutes; if time allows, also moxibustion at Xuehai (Spleen 10), Zusanli (Stomach 36), and Yanglingquan (Gallbladder 34) for 30 minutes each.
5. Question: My child has a fever of 39.2°C with no other symptoms. Can I perform moxibustion?
Immediately moxibustion at the Dazhui (Du 14) and Feishu (Bladder 13) points for 15-20 minutes (depending on the child’s age), and at the Hegu (Large Intestine 4) point for 5-10 minutes on each side; do this 2-3 times a day, and it should improve in about 2 days. If the palms and soles are hot or cold, you can also moxibustion those areas.
6. Question: Teacher, I often suffer from insomnia. What should I do?
This is effective for insomnia caused by tension and anxiety. Perform abdominal massage twice daily for 10 minutes, and tap the inner thigh for 10 minutes on each side at night; consistently doing these two actions should help improve your sleep.
7. Question: Teacher, my mother has persistent itching all over her body, and when she itches, she scratches until it bleeds, but her skin condition is not contagious. How should I perform moxibustion? She has been like this for 30 years. Where should I moxibustion? Does she have internal wind?
Moxibustion at the Ge Shu (Bladder 17) point for 30 minutes on each side, moxibustion for 3 days and then rest for 1 day.
8. Question: Is it effective to tap the inner thigh only at night? When is the best time to tap during the day?
Between 5-7 PM, when the kidney meridian is active, is also a good time to tap.
9. Question: My mother had a cerebral hemorrhage and now has hydrocephalus. She does not recognize people but is conscious. Can she undergo moxibustion? Which points should be treated?
Moxibustion at the Baihui (Du 20) point for 20 minutes; at Zusanli and Xuanzhong (Gallbladder 39) points for 20 minutes each; moxibustion for 2 days and then rest for 1 day.
10. Question: Hello, teacher, my three-year-old child with cerebral palsy cannot sit or walk. How should I perform moxibustion? Which points should I treat?
Regularly moxibustion at the Shenzhu and navel for 10 minutes each, 4 times a week. Do this for a month and then adjust based on the situation; it should be very beneficial, but do not rush.
11. Question: Teacher, how should I perform moxibustion for gastric ulcers effectively?
Moxibustion at the Zhongwan (Ren 12) point for 20 minutes; at Neiguan (Pericardium 6) for 5-10 minutes on each side; moxibustion for 3 days and then rest for 1 day.
12. Question: Teacher, I have liver and kidney yin deficiency with excessive heat, and my menstrual flow is very light, along with abdominal distension and constipation. How should I adjust?
Drink plenty of warm water daily, and consistently perform abdominal massage twice daily for 10 minutes; this should resolve the issue.
13. Question: Teacher, during my postpartum period, I caught a draft on my right shoulder, and now it hurts. How should I perform moxibustion?
Place a single-hole bamboo moxibustion box on the painful area, and place another single-hole box on the same side at the Jianjing (Gallbladder 21) point, moxibustion for 20 minutes; hold a moxa stick to moxibustion at the Houxi (Small Intestine 3) point for 5 minutes on each side.
14. Question: I often experience belching! It makes gurgling sounds when I drink water! Where should I moxibustion?
Perform abdominal massage twice daily for 10 minutes; this can resolve your issue. If combined with moxibustion at the Zhongwan point, it is best to do so for 30 minutes, moxibustion for 3 days and then rest for 1 day.
15. Question: Teacher, I feel a heaviness in my anus and gurgling sounds in my stomach. How should I perform moxibustion?
Moxibustion at the Zhongwan point for 20 minutes; at the Chengshan point for 20 minutes on each side.
16. Question: My friend has chronic bronchitis for over ten years, and the qi rises. How should I perform moxibustion?
First, moxibustion at the Hegu and Taichong (Liver 3) points for 10 minutes on each side; after a period of moxibustion, when the qi no longer rises, then proceed with moxibustion at the bronchitis points.
17. Question: My mother has erosive gastritis. How should I perform moxibustion and what type of moxibustion should I use?
For erosive gastritis, lie flat and place a square four-hole bamboo moxibustion box on the Zhongwan point, inserting 2 moxa sticks (with moxa device) for 30 minutes; you can move back and forth between the Jueyin (Pericardium 5) and the navel; simultaneously, hold a moxa stick to moxibustion at Neiguan for 5 minutes on each side.
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