Moxibustion( 灸法） 1)history of Moxibustion and it’s concept; Acupuncture and moxibustion in chinese handwriting 针 灸 ( 针， needle; 灸，久， long; 火， fire) 。 Originate from nuture fire warmer stone herb burning which has history even more than acupuncture(especially in north of china);Moxibustion is the burning on the skin of herb moxa at acupuncture point.The most popular materal for moxibustion is dried leave of Artemisia Vulgaris( 艾叶 mean common artemisia).

Moxa

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2)The popular method of using it are: Moxa-stick （艾条灸） Moxa-cones （艾炷灸） Warming needle （温针灸）

Moxibustion with moxa sticks （艾条灸） ----Ignite one end of the moxa stick and put it over the selected point or diseased part of the body. mild-warm moxibustion, sparrow-pecking moxibustion circling moxibustion. ----This method is easy to manipulate and is well acceptable for the patients,so it is more often used than moxa cone.

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Direct moxibustion （直接灸） A moxa cone placed directly on the skin and ignited is called directly moxibustion. Nonscarring moxibustion Remove the cone and place another one when the patient feels hot or pain. No scar left on the skin. Scarring moxibustion Ignite the cone until it completely burns out. It will leave scar on the skin.

Indirect moxibustion （间接灸） -----The ignited moxa cone is insulated from the skin by a pad of medical substance Fresh ginger and garlic slices//3-5mm Moxibustion with ginger ---used for treating vomiting, abdominal pain,diarrhea due to cold. Moxibustion with garlic ---used for treating scrofula, the early stage of skin ulcer with boils, poisonous insect bite. Moxibustion with salt---to restore yang from collapse: excessive sweating, cold limbs and undetectable pulse

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Moxibustion with warming needle 温针法 After the arrival of qi and with the needle retained in the point in proper depth, put the needle handle into a moxa stick of 1-2cm long and ignite the stick until it is burnt out. This method is suitable to treat common diseases and to tonify the body.

Warming needle moxa

3)function of moxibustion: A.Warming channel and expel cold exogenous factor or pathogenic cold So can treat the pain caused by cold Like frozen shoulder(‘fifty years old shoulder”) B. Promoting blood circulation,promoting immunity for disease prevention C.Charge the “Qi”,restore or nourish vital energy inside (yang qi)or charge battery for anti-fatigue,hypotention and shock Example:zusanli point(ST36),guanyuan (CV4)point,shousanli(LI 10) 4).Usage range and it’s for bidden points. Moxbustion is used to treat specific types of disease and applied over the same body points(acupuncture points) as acupuncture needles.but,some of the acupuncture points,such as those points around the eye,are forbidden to use warming needle.direct moxibustion on face is forbidden.

Precautions of moxibustion 1.In general, on the abdominal region and lumbosacral region of a pregnant woman are not allowed to use moxibustion. 2.Scarring moxibustion should not be applied to the face,the precardiac region,and the area in the vicinity of the large blood vessels,and on the regions of the tendons. For the patients with coma, numbness of the extremities,excessive dose of moxibustion is not advisable.