Moxibustion for Health Preservation
- Common moxibustion methods
- Selection principles and contraindications
- Mechanisms of moxibustion for health preservation
1. Common Moxibustion Methods
(1) Moxa Cone Moxibustion: Pure mugwort wool is placed on a flat surface and rolled into a conical moxa cone. Common sizes resemble millet, wild celery seeds, or lotus seeds. Each ignited cone is called one "zhuāng." Moxibustion is divided into direct and indirect types.
Direct moxibustion involves placing the moxa cone directly on the acupoint. Depending on whether scarring occurs, it is further classified into scar moxibustion and non-scar moxibustion:
① Non-scar moxibustion: Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly or warm water to the site to enhance adhesion, then place the moxa cone and ignite it. When the patient feels pain, replace the cone. Typically 3–5 cones are used until local skin turns red and flushed. No scarring forms post-treatment, making it well-accepted and widely used.
② Scar moxibustion: Apply garlic juice to the site to increase adhesion and irritation, then place the moxa cone. Allow each cone to burn completely before removing ash and replacing it. Usually 5–10 cones are used. To reduce pain during treatment, gently tap around the site. About one week post-treatment, the site develops pus; the wound heals and scabs fall off in 5–6 weeks, leaving a scar. *Questions and Answers on Acupuncture and Moxibustion* states: “If you wish to stay healthy, never let the Gaochang and Zusanli points dry,” referring to this scar moxibustion.
Indirect moxibustion does not place the moxa cone directly on the skin but separates it with different substances. Names vary based on the separator: ginger-separated moxibustion (using fresh ginger slices), salt-separated moxibustion (using refined salt). Common indirect methods include:
③ Ginger-separated moxibustion: Use fresh ginger sliced into 2–3 cm diameter, 0.2–0.3 cm thick pieces, pierced with several holes. Place the ginger slice over the target acupoint or affected area, then put the moxa cone on top and ignite. Replace the cone after burning out. Continue until the required number of sessions, aiming for reddened but blister-free skin.
④ Garlic-separated moxibustion: Use fresh garlic cloves sliced 0.2–0.3 cm thick, pierced with several holes. Place the slice over the acupoint or affected area, then apply the moxa cone and ignite. Replace the cone after burning out until the required number of sessions.
⑤ Salt-separated moxibustion: Fill the navel with pure salt, or place a thin ginger slice above the salt, then apply a large moxa cone.
⑥ Prepared Aconite Cake Moxibustion: Grind aconite root into powder, mix with wine to form a cake about 3 cm in diameter and 0.8 cm thick, pierce with several holes. Place the cake over the target acupoint or affected area, then apply the moxa cone and burn until the required number of sessions.
(2) Moxa Roll Moxibustion (also called moxa stick or suspended moxibustion): Involves rolling pure mugwort wool into a cylindrical stick. Typically, 24 grams of mugwort wool are evenly spread on a 26 cm × 20 cm mulberry paper sheet, rolled tightly into a cylinder, sealed at the end. If other herbs are added, it becomes a medicinal moxa stick. Light one end and hold it 1–2 inches above the skin for moxibustion. Since the stick is suspended without touching the skin, it is called suspended moxibustion. This method is simple to perform, less likely to burn the skin, and allows self-application, hence widely used.
(3) Warm Needle Moxibustion: Combines acupuncture and moxibustion, transmitting heat through the needle body into the body. Suitable for conditions requiring both retention of needles and moxibustion. Procedure: After obtaining deqi via acupuncture, fix the needle at an appropriate depth, then roll moxa wool onto the needle handle and ignite it until fully burned. Alternatively, insert a 1–2 cm segment of moxa stick onto the needle handle for moxibustion.
2. Selection and Contraindications
First, select appropriate acupoints based on constitution and health goals. Position the ignited moxa stick or cone precisely over the acupoint, ensuring the local area feels mild warmth, comfortable and tolerable.
Generally, start with upper body, then lower body; first head and trunk, then limbs. Ignoring order—starting with lower body and ending with head—may cause facial heat, dry throat, and dryness. Safety precautions: prevent burning embers from igniting clothing or skin.
Moxibustion duration ranges from 3–5 minutes, up to 10–15 minutes maximum. For health maintenance, shorter durations suffice; longer durations are recommended for post-illness recovery. Shorter sessions in spring and summer, longer in autumn and winter. Shorter for limbs and chest, longer for abdomen and back. Shorter for elderly, women, and children; slightly longer for young adults.
After moxibustion, mild redness and warmth on the skin are normal and require no treatment—they disappear quickly. If blisters appear, small ones absorb naturally; large ones should be punctured with a sterilized needle to drain fluid, then apply bear oil or gentian violet and cover with sterile gauze. After scar moxibustion, cover the site with sterile dressing to prevent friction, infection, and protect the scab. If infection occurs with yellow-green exudate or bleeding, apply anti-inflammatory ointment or Yuhong ointment.
Avoid scar moxibustion on face, eyes, ears, and major vessels. Do not moxibustion on pregnant women’s abdomen or lumbar-sacral region. These are contraindications.
3. Mechanisms of Moxibustion for Health Preservation
(1) Warming and unblocking meridians, promoting blood and qi circulation. Moxibustion materials are primarily made from mugwort leaves (*Artemisia argyi*). *Bencao* states: “Mugwort can treat all diseases.” *Bencao Congxin* says: “Mugwort is bitter and pungent, warm in nature, purely yang. It restores failing yang, penetrates twelve meridians, travels through three yin channels, regulates blood and qi, expels cold and dampness, warms the uterus… when used for moxibustion, it penetrates all diseases and eliminates all ailments.” This illustrates how moxibustion’s warming action unblocks meridians, enabling normal blood and qi flow.
(2) Strengthening vital energy and preventing disease. *The Heart Sutra of Bian Que* states: “A person’s true qi is the master of the entire body. Strong true qi means strength; weak true qi means illness; loss of true qi means death. The best way to preserve life is moxibustion.” This shows moxibustion strengthens vital energy, and abundant vital energy prevents pathogens from invading—thus disease prevention.
(3) Significant strengthening effect on the spleen and stomach. *Zi Sheng Jing* notes: “For those with poor appetite, distension, pale complexion—commonly called spleen-stomach disorders—use moxibustion at Zhongwan.” Moxibustion at Zhongwan warms spleen yang and boosts central qi. Regular moxibustion at Zusanli not only enhances digestive function but also improves nutrient absorption, achieving preventive and therapeutic benefits against aging and disease.