Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has always believed that every disease has a path of entry and a path of exit. The role of the physician is merely to provide a way for the pathogenic factors to exit.
From the perspective of the Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage), the path of disease entry and exit corresponds to the “exterior, interior, and the space in between.” A disease may manifest on the exterior as sweating, or it may be expelled from the interior (through vomiting); if it is between the exterior and interior, it can be treated with herbs.
The elimination of disease during the moxibustion process follows this principle. When the disease is on the exterior, it may manifest through the skin pores, or the facial and limb areas; when it is in the interior, it may be expelled through the gastrointestinal tract or urinary system; and for those between the exterior and interior, the direction of resolution will ultimately lead to recovery through the exterior.
Considering pathological products: 1. Related to stasis, on the exterior it may present as purpura on the skin, or phlegm with blood streaks; in the interior, it may appear as dark brown stools. For women, if the disease is in the uterus, it may present with blood clots, tissue, or even necrotic material in menstrual flow.
2. Related to phlegm-dampness, on the exterior it may manifest as coughing up phlegm, or swelling in the face and limbs; in the interior, it may present as abdominal pain, diarrhea, difficulty urinating, or frequent urination.
3. Related to stagnation, it primarily manifests as emotional changes, often accompanied by insomnia, hypersomnia, or gas-related symptoms such as belching, hiccups, or flatulence.
4. Related to cold, many people may experience sneezing, runny nose, and body aches, while some may feel coolness emanating from the head or extremities, or even experience half-body or full-body coldness (with normal body temperature) as a manifestation.
5. Related to fire toxicity, it often presents as sores, swelling and pain, skin rashes accompanied by intense itching, and burning sensations during urination and defecation.
6. Fever often appears after the body’s recovery capabilities have been activated, indicating a resurgence of qi and blood, and an enhancement of physical constitution.
The elimination reactions that occur during moxibustion are also a process of deeply cleansing diseases and strengthening the body, and they may recur. It is important to carefully differentiate these phenomena; if reactions occur without any external triggers and are purely a result of the moxibustion process, they can likely be confirmed as moxibustion elimination reactions.
With each elimination reaction during moxibustion, the body clears one pathogenic factor. If one is intolerant to these elimination reactions, it is advisable to adjust through dietary therapy, decoctions, or topical herbal applications as natural medical methods.