Moxibustion has significant effects, is simple to perform, and is economical and practical, with almost no adverse reactions. However, during the moxibustion process, it is essential to strictly follow the principles of regulation and operational methods.
1. The Order of Moxibustion is Important
“In moxibustion, one should first treat Yang and then Yin, starting from the head and gradually moving down to the left, then from the head to the right, treating from above to below.” — Tang Dynasty, Sun Simiao, “Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold: Acupuncture”
The general order of moxibustion in clinical practice is: first treat the upper part → then the lower back; first treat the back and waist → then the chest and abdomen; first treat the head → then the limbs; first treat Yang meridian acupoints → then Yin meridian acupoints; start with a small amount of moxibustion → then gradually increase. If moxibustion is not performed in order, treating the lower part first and then the head, the patient may experience discomfort such as heat in the head and face, dry mouth, and throat dryness. During moxibustion, it is also necessary to consider the patient’s condition and adjust according to the illness, without being rigid.
“First treat above, then below; first treat less, then more; moxibustion should be done cautiously.” — “Western Child Ming Hall Moxibustion Classic”
2. Proper Control of Moxibustion Quantity
Principle 1:
Deficiency and Excess, Cold and Heat, Different Times, Different Frequencies
Regarding the indications for moxibustion, “Introduction to Medicine” states — “For deficiency, moxibustion is used to assist Yang; for excess, moxibustion is used to disperse the pathogenic factors with the heat; for cold, moxibustion is used to warm the Qi; for heat, moxibustion is used to expel the stagnant heat, which is the meaning of fire drying.” This means that the ancients believed that both deficiency and excess, cold and heat can be treated with moxibustion, but the quantity, technique, and acupoint selection differ.
However, please note that although deficiency, excess, cold, and heat can all be treated with moxibustion, moxibustion has a certain bias; mugwort is “the Yang of the earth,” and it is best suited for deficiency and cold conditions. Therefore, whenever encountering deficiency and cold, just moxibustion without hesitation!
As for excess and heat conditions, treatment should be tailored to the illness and the individual. However, we can follow these three principles:
1. From the perspective of moxibustion quantity, excess and heat conditions require moderate moxibustion quantity and shorter duration (for example, when there are symptoms of night sweats, heat in the palms and soles, dry mouth and thirst, yellow and red urine, and dry stools, moxibustion should be done less);
2. From the perspective of technique, excess and heat conditions mostly use dispersing techniques, while deficiency and cold conditions primarily use tonifying techniques;
3. From the perspective of acupoint selection, excess and heat conditions must nourish Yin, hence the lower abdomen and legs must be treated (for example, individuals with Yin deficiency must moxibustion at Sanyinjiao (Three Yin Intersection), Taixi (Great Stream), and Yongquan (Gushing Spring) to achieve the goal of seeking Yin within Yang).
Principle 2:
Treating Illness with Moxibustion and Health Maintenance Moxibustion, Different Times, Different Frequencies
Generally speaking, if the body is free of pain, it is recommended to perform health maintenance moxibustion 3-4 times a week, for 30 minutes to 2 hours each time, which can achieve the purpose of health preservation. However, this does not mean that health maintenance moxibustion can be done irregularly; it also requires regular practice and long-term adherence. We have statistically found that individuals with poor congenital constitution (such as those with Yang deficiency) generally need to regularly moxibustion health maintenance acupoints (such as Dazhui (Great Vertebra), Mingmen (Life Gate), Shenque (Spirit Gateway), Guanyuan (Origin Pass), Zusanli (Leg Three Miles), Sanyinjiao (Three Yin Intersection), etc.) for about half a year to a year for their constitution to improve significantly.
If disease symptoms have already appeared, naturally, the frequency of moxibustion should be much more frequent than for health maintenance, and the duration of each moxibustion session should also be relatively extended.
Specifically, for different diseases, the frequency and duration of moxibustion also vary, as detailed below (the terms “short-term” and “long-term” are relative concepts, not absolute):
1. For superficial diseases, short-term moxibustion; for deep-seated diseases, long-term moxibustion
From the skin, muscles, tendons, and bones, the deeper the disease, the more severe it is and the harder it is to treat. For superficial diseases, the heat and medicinal properties of moxibustion can easily reach the lesion, and recovery is naturally faster. Therefore, in terms of time, the duration required for recovery from superficial diseases is certainly less than that for deep-seated diseases.
This principle has been illustrated in “Bian Que Meets Cai Huan Gong”: from the skin to the muscles, then to the stomach and intestines, and finally to the bone marrow, the disease becomes more severe as it goes deeper. For physicians, this increases the difficulty of treatment; for patients, it prolongs the treatment time.
2. For diseases in the meridians, short-term moxibustion; for diseases in the organs, long-term moxibustion
If the disease is in the meridians, it is sufficient to open the meridians and allow Qi and blood to flow smoothly, and the lesion will be expelled from the body. However, if the disease is in the six fu organs (bladder, stomach, gallbladder, large intestine, small intestine, san jiao), then the moxibustion time must be longer; if the righteous Qi is weak and the disease continues to progress into the five zang organs (heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney), then more time is needed, as in addition to curing the disease, more moxibustion is required to support the righteous Qi, which must be sufficient for the pathogenic factors to retreat quickly.
For symptoms of the six fu organs, some mild cases, such as gastritis, generally show significant effects after 1-3 months of moxibustion. However, this does not mean that treatment can be interrupted after improvement; to completely eradicate the disease, long-term adherence is still necessary.
3. For unchanged conditions, short-term moxibustion; for changed conditions, long-term moxibustion
What does it mean for the condition to have changed? For example, if a person has heavy cold and dampness in the uterus but has not developed uterine fibroids, in this case, it is sufficient to moxibustion to eliminate the cold and dampness. However, if uterine fibroids have already developed, it becomes more complicated, as in addition to eliminating cold and dampness, conditions that lead to the formation of uterine fibroids must also be addressed, and symptoms that have already appeared must be resolved, allowing “large fibroids to shrink and small fibroids to disappear.” Naturally, this cannot be achieved with just a few moxibustion sessions.
4. For short-term illnesses, short-term moxibustion; for long-term illnesses, long-term moxibustion;
Short-term illnesses indicate that the condition is relatively mild, making treatment easier, and the duration and frequency of moxibustion can be slightly less. However, for acute conditions such as diarrhea or acute colds, moxibustion should be performed frequently until symptoms completely disappear. After recovery, it is recommended to moxibustion three more times to consolidate the effect.
Note: For acute diseases or sudden illnesses that pose significant harm, it is advisable to seek immediate medical attention! Because moxibustion takes time to take effect and is not instantaneous; it requires a process. For example, if a child suddenly has a high fever that is difficult to control, immediate medical attention is necessary!
Long-term illnesses mainly refer to chronic diseases (including gynecological diseases). Chronic diseases must be treated with long-term moxibustion! Because “long-term illness must lead to stasis” and “long-term illness must lead to deficiency,” chronic disease patients are mostly deficient and need to tonify deficiency and benefit the body. This cannot be achieved with casual adjustments; long-term moxibustion is necessary to improve constitution and regulate the entire body for effectiveness. Of course, long-term moxibustion does not mean daily moxibustion; it is recommended to moxibustion every other day or take 1-2 days off each week, but it must be done regularly for the best results.
Generally speaking, chronic diseases require at least 3 months, and it may take half a year or even longer. For chronic diseases such as chronic bronchitis or chronic leg pain, we recommend moxibustion throughout the year.
Principle 3:
Original Points and Other Acupoints, Different Times, Different Frequencies
Original points first appeared in the “Huangdi Neijing” and refer to specific acupoints located below the elbow and knee joints, where the original Qi of the organs passes through and is retained.
“Original” implies the original source and true essence. The original Qi originates from the area below the navel and between the kidneys, which is the source of life for the human body and the most basic driving force for maintaining life activities. The original Qi circulates through the three jiao and reaches the five zang and six fu organs, extending to the head and limbs, and is fundamental for maintaining normal physiological functions of the twelve meridians. Therefore, when the organs are diseased, it will reflect on the corresponding original points, and through various abnormal changes in the original points, one can infer the prosperity and decline of the organs. Thus, the importance of original points in the human body is evident.
In clinical practice, moxibustion at the original points can facilitate the flow of original Qi through the three jiao, regulate the functions of the organs and meridians, thereby maintaining righteous Qi and resisting pathogenic factors. Due to the extreme importance of original points, the duration of moxibustion at original points should be longer than at other paired acupoints.
Principle 4: Based on Post-Moxibustion Sensation
What is the appropriate frequency for moxibustion?
This involves specific factors such as the disease, symptoms, etc., as Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasizes differentiation. Different diseases, different symptoms, and different populations require different solutions. Even the most skilled moxibustion masters cannot make a definitive conclusion without knowing your specific situation. Therefore, moxibustion cannot be uniformly applied based on textbooks; a simple judgment standard is: based on post-moxibustion sensation!
For example, if today you moxibustion for 2 hours and the effect is good, you can continue for the next day or two; if you feel a bit of heat, then reduce the moxibustion quantity and time, and focus on nourishing Yin acupoints; if the heat sensation persists, then take a break for 2 days. Adjust the moxibustion quantity and time according to how you feel, and set the quantity and time that feels just right as the standard.
For instance, if today you moxibustion at Guanyuan and feel a significant sensation, then focus on Guanyuan and try to extend the moxibustion time at this acupoint.
The most common issue we encounter is that many moxibustion practitioners hesitate when they experience a reaction to the treatment and stop moxibustion. Most of these practitioners are new to moxibustion and have not yet tried to see how their bodies can adapt to it. Therefore, we suggest that these practitioners explore more and pay attention to their experiences; after a month or two, questions such as how long to moxibustion each day and how many times a week will be resolved.
艾匠官方旗舰店
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