Precautions Before Moxibustion:
1. Since moxibustion should not be exposed to wind, please close doors and windows before treatment; the room should not be ventilated. This applies in summer as well; do not ventilate or turn on the air conditioning.
2. Do not perform moxibustion immediately after eating; wait at least 1 hour after a meal.
3. It is also important to drink a cup of warm water before moxibustion to promote detoxification and avoid excessive internal heat.
Situations Where Moxibustion is Contraindicated:
Do not perform moxibustion if the pulse exceeds 90 beats per minute;
Do not perform moxibustion if overly hungry, overly full, or intoxicated;
Do not perform moxibustion within 48 hours of an acute sprain;
Pregnant women should not undergo moxibustion!
Precautions During Moxibustion:
1. Stay Focused
During moxibustion, maintain concentration and avoid distractions to prevent the moxa stick from moving away from the acupuncture point, which could cause burns and waste time.
2. Fire Safety
When using fire for moxibustion, be cautious about fire safety. Many modern clothing materials, such as synthetic fibers and down, are flammable, so be careful to prevent embers from falling, especially when using moxa cones.
After using a moxa stick, you can extinguish the lit end by placing it in a bottle slightly larger in diameter than the moxa stick and sealing it.
3. Avoid Wind and Keep Warm
Since parts of the body will be exposed during moxibustion, keep warm in winter by closing doors and windows. After treatment, if you feel warm or sweat, do not go outside immediately to avoid catching a chill. In summer, be cautious of heatstroke during moxibustion.
Throughout the moxibustion treatment, avoid drinking cold water or eating cold food, as this is counterproductive to the treatment.
4. Ensure Correct Positioning and Acupuncture Points
It is crucial to ensure the accuracy of body positioning and acupuncture points during moxibustion. The position should not only meet the needs of moxibustion but also be comfortable and natural. Always locate the correct points according to the prescription to achieve the desired effects.
Post-Moxibustion Precautions:
1. Within half an hour after moxibustion, do not wash your hands or face with cold water. After treatment, the pores are open, making you susceptible to cold.
2. Do not take a shower immediately after moxibustion for the same reason. Generally, I recommend showering before moxibustion or waiting a few hours after treatment to shower.
3. If you feel fatigued or weak after moxibustion, this is normal. Your body is undergoing a period of adjustment, and you should rest without overexerting yourself.
For sensitive individuals: use smaller moxa cones or sticks, change them frequently, and avoid burning too close to the skin.
For areas with thick skin and muscle, such as the lower back and abdomen, where there is cold and stagnation, larger and more robust moxa cones can be used; they can be larger and more numerous.
For areas with thin skin and tendons, such as the head, face, chest, and extremities, where there is a risk of wind-cold, the amount of moxibustion should be limited; use smaller and fewer cones.
Moxibustion for FertilityPrecautions
If you are trying to conceive, do not engage in sexual intercourse immediately after moxibustion, as the environment in the uterus and fallopian tubes will still be too warm, which is not conducive to sperm survival. It is best to wait 24-48 hours after moxibustion before having intercourse, as this allows the environment to be more suitable for sperm implantation and survival. However, this can vary from person to person; some men may have a high sperm survival rate and still have a chance of conception.
Preventing Dizziness from Moxibustion
Dizziness from moxibustion is rare, but if it occurs, symptoms may include dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, pale complexion, palpitations, and sweating, and in severe cases, fainting. If dizziness occurs, stop moxibustion immediately, lie down, and apply moxibustion to Zu San Li (Stomach 36) for about 10 minutes.
Precautions for Pediatric Moxibustion:
1. Due to the delicate skin of children, to avoid skin damage and scarring, it is advisable to use moxa sticks for gentle moxibustion techniques such as gentle moxibustion, sparrow pecking moxibustion, or circular moxibustion.
2. Children have a lower sensitivity to heat and pain, and since they are often restless and cannot cooperate, extra care should be taken during moxibustion. An adult can place their index and middle fingers on either side of the area being treated to sense temperature changes.
3. Distance and Temperature Sensation: The moxa stick should be positioned 2-4 cm above the acupuncture point. If the skin shows slight redness and warmth, it is appropriate to bring the moxa stick closer. If the redness deepens or there is a burning sensation, move the moxa stick further away.
4. Duration and Intervals: The duration of moxibustion should be shorter, with longer intervals. Generally, each session should last 10-15 minutes, with a day of rest before the next session. After 10 sessions, it can be changed to once a week or once every two weeks.
Precautions for Women’s Health Moxibustion:
Among all groups receiving moxibustion, women tend to benefit the most. In TCM culture, men are considered yang and women yin. Women often have a cold and damp constitution, while moxibustion is a purely yang therapy, which complements the yin constitution. Additionally, the mechanism of moxibustion promotes the circulation of qi and blood, which aligns with women’s physiological characteristics related to blood. Therefore, it is understandable that women experience significant benefits from moxibustion.
When women choose moxibustion for health, they should also pay attention to keeping warm and maintaining a proper diet, avoiding excessive cold. Moxibustion can be particularly effective in the premenstrual phase, but it is important to avoid moxibustion on the lower back and abdomen during menstruation, and it is contraindicated during pregnancy.
Precautions for Men’s Health Moxibustion:
The Huangdi Neijing states: “After the age of forty, yang energy is halved.” This is especially applicable to men. We know that the kidneys are fundamental for men, and after the age of 40, kidney yang deficiency may first manifest as dizziness, chills, susceptibility to colds, and even symptoms like erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. Subsequently, kidney essence may become deficient, leading to symptoms such as lower back and knee weakness, fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. Moxibustion can invigorate kidney yang and warm kidney essence, thereby improving these symptoms.
Men have fewer contraindications for moxibustion, but they should take care of their kidneys and avoid excessive sexual activity. It is important not to neglect health after recovering from erectile dysfunction, as this can lead to further depletion of the body.
Contraindications for Moxibustion:
1. Do not perform direct moxibustion on exposed areas, such as the face, to prevent scarring and aesthetic issues. Additionally, avoid direct moxibustion on joints.
2. Avoid moxibustion on areas with thin skin and little muscle, such as the lower back and abdomen of pregnant women, as well as the nipples, genital area, and testicles of both genders.
3. Avoid moxibustion during certain infectious diseases, high fever, coma, convulsions, or extreme physical exhaustion, where the body is emaciated.
4. Individuals without self-control, such as those with mental illnesses, should avoid moxibustion.
