Moxibustion: An Essential Guide to the Practice of Moxibustion Therapy and How It Works to Address Yang or Qi Deficiency

29 Pages·2015·0.55 MB·English

by  Roger Bodoin

灸
Moxibustion An Essential Guide to the
Practice of Moxibustion Therapy and
How it Works to Address Yáng or Qì
Deficiency
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Table of Contents

Introductio n
Chapter 1: What Can Moxibustion Treat ?
Chapter 2: Indirect Mox a
Chapter 3: Direct Mox a
Chapter 4: Making Sense of It Al l
Chapter 5: What is Qì ?
Chapter 6: What is Yīn and Yáng ?
Chapter 7: What is Yáng Deficiency ?
Chapter 8: What is Yīn Deficiency ?
Conclusio n
Introduction

Thecharacter on the title page , 灸 ( jiǔ , pronounced as ji-yow) is made up of
two Chinese pictograms. It’s composedo f 久 ( jiǔ ), which means “a long
time,” an d 火 ( huǒ , pronounced as hu-wo), which means “fire” or “flame.”
Put together, it either means “to cauterize” or “moxibustion,” depending on the
context it’s used in. As far as this book is concerned, “ 灸 ” specifically means
moxibustion .

Moxibustion is one of the treatments used in traditional Chinese medicine
(TCM), which involves activating pressure points (called acupoints) and other
parts of the body with heat. The heat source used is traditionally mugwort (also
called moxa), a type of aromatic plant that’s part of the daisy family and related
to ragweed.

Just so you know, Europeans used to make beer out of mugwort before they
finally switched over to hops. They did so because the latter tastes so much
better and keeps a lot longer too.

What they do in TCM is to dry the mugwort, then grind it up into fluff. It can be
used as a spice for food or as a medicine in its own right. For moxibustion,
however, they process it further, turning that fluff into (1) small incense cone
pellets, (2) clay-like balls that can be attached to the ends of needles, or (3) long
and hard cigar-like sticks. These are then lit and either applied directly to the
skin, or just above it to create heat, without burning the flesh.

Although the smoke produced is considered to be medicinal, the main function
of the mugwort is to produce controlled heat; which begs the question of “why
they use mugwort to begin with?” but not something else. As with many things
in Asia, it’s simply about tradition. The ancient treatises recommended it, the
ancient doctors used it, and so that’s what’s still used today. That said, some
modern clinics which use TCM techniques have begun resorting to electronic
sources of heat, instead.

Moxibustion is an effective treatment for maintaining general health, as it
strengthens the blood and stimulates the body’s flow of energy, or qì (more on
this later). It also treats other things, which this book will cover in greater detail.
Moxibustion, however, is rarely ever used alone. It is instead used with other
TCM methods, like acupuncture, massage, dietary recommendations, herbal
treatments, exercise regimens, and so much more.

Please note that this book does not in any way shape or form endorse
moxibustion as a viable sole source of treatment in place of anything else that
your doctor recommends. Furthermore, moxibustion should be practiced safely
so that you don’t burn yourself or hurt yourself (or other) in any way. The
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) considers
moxibustion to be generally harmless. But if you wish to explore it as an
alternative form of treatment, it’s best to consult your GP first, and use it in
tandem with his or her recommended conventional medical treatments. This
book will explain what to expect out of a moxibustion session, some of the
theories behind it, and what it can do for you — but purely for educational
purposes only.
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Chapter 1: What Can Moxibustion Treat?

Moxibustion is used to treat a wide range of ailments. TCM claims that it is
effective at curing:
Arthritis
Back pain
Constipation
Chronic fatigue
Cramps
Digestive problems
Fertility problems
Headaches and migraines
Hypertension
Lethargy
Mental dullness
Stiff and sore muscles
Tendonitis
Ulcers

A recent study on postmenopausal women found that moxibustion even shows
promise as a means of mitigating the frequency and severity of hot flashes.

Some research suggests that it can even prevent breech presentation—when
babies don’t turn head first, and threaten to come out buttocks or feet first, which
presents complications, since they must come out head first to prevent being
suffocated. Such studies remain in contention, however. As of this writing
(2015), the NCCIH does not support such claims and considers them to be
bogus.

The smell of burning mugwort is considered to be a curative in itself, since it
stimulates blood flow, especially to the genital region. It is therefore considered
to be especially helpful for women who are suffering from menstrual cramps, as
well as for those suffering from digestive problems.

For mild cases of menstrual pain, mugwort is simply burned as incense, inhaled
as a form of aromatherapy, or infused with tea and either drunk or inhaled. This
is why many cultures associate mugwort with women, particularly where the
plant grows, in Asia, Northern Europe, and North America.

Please note that some people are allergic to mugwort, as well as its byproducts,
such as teas and oils. That said, none have shown any allergic reactions to its
smell.

It has also been proven that the plant is unsafe for those with diabetes, and that it
causes toxic reactions in others when ingested. Finally, mugwort teas and oils
are not recommended for pregnant or lactating women.

If you are going to try out TCM, and if they do recommend moxibustion, choose
a clinic that uses modern medical methods so they can find out if you have any
allergies, especially to mugwort. It is extremely unlikely, however, that you will
be given mugwort tea or oil during a moxibustion session.

That said, it is entirely possible that you might be given a prescription of
mugwort tea or other herbal cures which you might be allergic to, or have some
other adverse reaction towards. Again, please be safe and consult with your GP
first.

So how do they perform moxibustion on you? They do so in several ways.
Chapter 2: Indirect Moxa

This is the most common method of moxibustion, as it’s safe, painless, and in
some cases, can even be done at home by yourself if you have the right
equipment.

Moxa Sticks This is where that cigar-shaped moxa stick comes in; it can be
bought online or at any Chinese medical supply store. Japanese, Korean, and
Vietnamese stores often stock these as well, since their traditional medicine have
similar roots.

Moxa sticks come wrapped in paper, but it’s never completely removed. It’s
simply unwrapped a little at a time to preserve the medicinal quality and scent of
the dried mugwort (or moxa) inside. The unwrapped tip is lit till it smolders,
then the flame is killed. That smoldering tip is then held about an inch over the
spot that needs treatment.

Indirect moxa is often used to treat digestive problems. According to ancient
texts, applying the burning end of a moxa stick over the belly button every day is
a guaranteed way to cure a hundred diseases. True or not, indirect moxa is also
used to treat:
Anemia
Asthma
Chronic fatigue
Edema (swelling of the limbs)
Indigestion
Low sex drive
Nausea
Shock