 Treats and prevents diseases by applying heat to points or certain locations of the body.  In Chapter 73 of Miraculous Pivot states, “A disease that may not be treated by acupuncture may be treated by Moxibustion.”  In Introduction to Medicine it says, “When a disease fails to respond to medication and acupuncture, Moxibustion is suggested.”

Material and Function of Moxibustion

 Artemisia Vulgaris is a species of chrysanthemum. The one produced in Qizhou is known as the best kind for moxa. The leaves of the Qizhou Artemisia are thick with much more wool.  In a New Edition of Materia Medica appears the following description: “The moxa leaf is bitter and acrid, producing warmth when used in small amount and stron heat when used in large amount. It is of pure yang nature having the ability to restore the primary yang from collapse. It can open the twelve regular meridians to regulate qi and blood, expel cold and dampness, warm the uterus, stop bleeding, warm the spleen and stomach to remove stagnation, regulate menstruation and ease the fetus…. When burned, it penetrates all the meridians, eliminating hundreds of diseases.”

 Yang qi can be activated by the Artemisia leaf for its warm nature. The acrid odour of the leaf can travel through the meridians, regulate qi and blood, and expel cold from the meridians, and its bitter nature resolves dampness.  In addition, the moxa wool can produce mild heat, which is able to penetrate deeply into the muscles. If it is replaced by other materials, an intolerable burning pain will result and effect is found poor than the moxa wool.

1) To warm meridians and expel cold  Abnormal flow of qi and blood in the body is usually resulted from cold and heat.  In Chapter 75 of Miraculous Pivot it says, “If stagnation of blood in the vessels cannot be treated by warming up with Moxibustion, it cannot be treated by acupuncture.”  In Chapter 48 of Miraculous Pivot it states, “Depressed symptoms should be treated by Moxibustion alone, because depression is due to blood stagnation caused by cold, which should be dispersed by Moxibustion.”  Therefore, it is mostly used in clinic to treat diseases caused by cold-dampness and persisistent diseases caused by pathogenic cold penetrating into the deep muscles.

 Another function of Moxibustion is to induce qi and blood to flow upward or downward. For example, moxa on KD 1 (Yongquan) to treat the disorders caused by excess in the upper part and deficiency in the lower part of the body and liver yang symptoms due to upward flowing of yang qi so as to lead the qi and blood to go downward.  In Chapter 64 of Mirculous Pivot, it is pointed out that “when there is an excess of qi in the upper portion, the qi should be brought downward by needling the points in the lower portion.” If the disorder is due to deficiency in the upper portion and excess in the lower portion and due to sinking of qi caused by deficiency, such as prolapsed of anus, prolapsed of uterus, prolonged diarrhea, etc, moxa on GV 20 (Baihui) may lead yang qi to flow upward.

 Yang qi is the foundation of the numan body. If it is in a sufficient condition, a man lives a long life; if it is lost, death occurs. Yang disorder is due to excesss of yin, leading to cold, deficiency and exhaustion of the primary qi characterized by a fatal pulse. At this moment Moxibustion applied can reinforce yang qi and prevent collapse. In Chapter 73 of Miraculous Pivot it says, “Deficiency of both yin and yang shold be treated by Moxibustion.”

 In precious Prescriptions appears, “Anyone who travels in the southwest part of China, such as Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, should have Moxibustion at two or three points to prevent sores or boils and to avoid pernicious malaria, epidemic diseases and pestilence.” It is often said, “If one wants to be healthy, you should often have Moxibustion over the point ST 36 (Zusanli).” In Notes on Bian Que’s Moxibustion, it says, “When a healthy man often has moxibustion to the points CV 4 (Guangyuan), CV 6 (Qihai), GV 4 (Mingmen) and CV 12 (Zhongwan), he would live a very long life, at least one hundred years’ life.” Clinical practice has proved that moxibustion is very much helpful inpreventing disease and keeping healthy.”

1) Direct Moxibustion  A moxa cone placed directly on the point and ignited is called direct Moxibustion, and is also known as “open Moxibustion.”  This type of Moxibustion is subdivided into scarring and nonscarring Moxibustion according to whether the local scar is formed or not.

 Prior to moxa, apply some onion or garlic juice to the site in order to increase the adhesion of the moxa cone to the skin, then put the moxa cone on the point and ignite it until it completely burns out. Repeat this procedure for five to ten units. This method may lead to a local burn, blister, festering and scar after healing.  Indications: Certain chronic diseases such as asthma.

 A moxa cone is placed on a point and ignited. When half or two thirds of it is burnt or the patient feels a burning discomfort, remove the cone and place another one. no blister should be formed and there should be no festering and scar formation.  Indications are diseases of chronic, deficient and cold nature such as asthma, chronic diarrhea, indigestion, etc.

 The ignited moxa cone does not rest on the skin directly but is insulated from the skin by one of four types of materials. 

 Cut a slice of ginger about 0.5 cm thick, punch numerous holes on it and place it on the point selected. On top of this piece of ginger, a large moxa cone is placed and ignited. When the patient feels it scorching, remove it and light another.  Indicated in symptoms caused by weakness of the stomach and spleen such as:  diarrhea,  abdominal pain,  painful joints and  symptoms due to yang deficiency.  (mostly for chronic diseases, SP and ST def. cold- damp Bi)

 Cut a slice of garlic about 0.5 cm thick (a large single clove of garlic is desirable), punch holes on it, put it on the point with the ignited moxa cone on top it. Renew the cone when the patient feels it scorching. This method is indicated in scrofula, tuberculosis, the early stage of skin ulcer with boils, poisonous insect bite, etc.  First stage of skin ulcer  Abdominal masses  None ulcerated carbuncles  After 4-5 cones replace garlic  5-7 cones is average treatment.  Scrofula is the term used for lymphadenopathy of the neck, usually as a result of an infection in the lymph nodes, known as lymphadenitis.  Tuberculosis is an infectious bacterial disease characterized by the growth of nodules (tubercles) in the tissues, especially the lungs.

 this is usually applied at the umbilicus, so it is also called “moxibustion at CV8 (Shenque) point.” fill the umbilicus with salt to the level of the skin, place a large moxa cone on the top of salt and then ignite it. (If the patient’s umbilicus is not concave in shape, a piece of wet noodle can be put around the umbilicus then fill salt in it.  Effective in cases of abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, pain around the umbilicus, pain caused by hernia, prolonged dysentery, etc. In addition, Moxibustion with salt has the function to restore the yang from collapse, e.g. symptoms of excessive sweating, cold limbs and undetectable pulse. Large moxa cones may be used successively until sweating stops, pulse restored and the four extremities get warm.

 A coin-sized cake made of monkshood powder mixed with alcohol, is punched with numerous holes in it, and placed on the site then moxa cone is ignited. Since it is of heat nature, the monkshood may warm yang and expel cold. This method is only suitable to treat deficient, and persistent yin-cold syndromes, such as impotence and ejaculation precox caused by decline of Mingmen fire.

 Deficient yang conditions, including skin ulcerations that resist healing or yin abscesses and carbuncles where pus will not disperse.  Pepper Moxa: white pepper mixed with flour, spread about 0.1 inch thick. For arthritis, local numbness and stiffness.

 1) Excess syndrome, and heat syndrome (including high feer caused by common cold or heat due to yin deficiency) are not allowed to be treated by moxa.  2) Scarring moxa should not be applied to the face and head, and the areas in the vicinity of large blood vessels. Close to the vital organs or close to the eyeball.  3) The abdominal region and lumbosacral region of pregnant women are not allowed for moxa.

 After moxa, different degrees of burns may remain in the local region, or there is only a slight red sign of burning which will disappear very soon. Sometimes, a few blisters result on the skin surface. Take care not to let small blisters break. they can be healed by themselves. Large blisters should be punctured and drained. If pus is formed, the blister should be dressed to prevent further infection.