2. 12/02/15 Moxibustion
1.The definition of Moxibustion
♦Moxibustion is a traditional therapy
with a long history in China,
referring to the therapeutic
technique with heat stimulation of
applying ignited mugwort or other
medical herbs to a certain part of the
body.
3. ♦ It plays an important
role in the traditional
medical systems of
China (including
Tibet), Japan, Korea,
Vietnam, and
Mongolia.
♦ It is based on the
theory of meridian
system.
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♦ Moxibustion is also an active regulating
functions of the body to improve and rectify
the disturbance and dysfunction of certain
organs in the body.
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The material — Moxa
♦ The material used
for moxibustion is
mainly Chinese
mugwort leaf which
is fragrant and easy
to be ignited. It is
processed into
mugwort wool for
clinical use.
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2.Generic Moxibustion methods
♦ Moxibustion with moxa cone
Direct moxibustion
Indirect moxibustion
♦ Moxibustion with moxa roll
♦ Moxibustion with warmed needles
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2.1 Moxibustion with moxa cone
♦ Moxa cone is a cone-shaped mugwort wool,
the size of which varies from the size of
wheat grain to the size of a Chinese date. The
measurement unit of moxa cone is called
“Zhuang”. The burning out of one moxa cone
is called one Zhuang.
8.
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♦ The moxa cone is
placed on the acupoint
selected in performing
moxibustion.
Moxibustion with
moxa cones is either
direct or indirect,
depending on whether
there is something
between the moxa
cone and the skin.
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2.1.1 Direct moxibustion
♦ Direct moxibution means that the moxa cone
is placed directly on the acupoint and
ignited. Prior to moxibustion, some garlic
juice or vaseline can be applied to the site in
order to increase the adhesion of the moxa
cone to the skin.
♦ This type of moxibustion is either scarring or
non-scarring according to the degree of
burning over the skin.
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Non-scarring moxibustion
♦ When 2/5 of a moxa cone is burnt, or when
the patient feels a burning pain, the cone is
replaced by a new one. The moxibustion
continues until the local skin becomes
reddish but without blisters. Usually each
acupoint can be moxibusted for 3~7 cones
without suppuration and scar formation.
♦ So this method of moxibustion is easy to
accepted by the patient and is usually used
to treat asthenia-cold syndrome.
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Scarring moxibustion
♦ When the moxa cone completely burns out,
it is replaced by a new one. This procedure
continues until blisters are formed. About
one week later after moxibustion,
suppuration is formed at the local region.
And about 5~6 weeks later, the wound heals
automatically, the scab exfoliates and scar is
formed.
♦ It is often used to treat certain chronic
diseases, such as asthma and pulmonary
tuberculosis.
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2.1.2 Indirect moxibustion
♦ The ignited moxa cone is isolated from the skin
by some materials, such as ginger and garlic, in
order to avoid burning the skin. A slice of fresh
ginger or garlic about 0.2~0.3 cm thick is
prepared, punched with holes and placed on the
acupoint selected. On top of the ginger slice, a
moxa cone is placed and ignited. After the
moxa cone completely burns out, it is replaced
by a new one. This procedure is repeated until
the local skin turns reddish but without blisters
formed.
14. Manipulation ：
Indication ： scrofula, turberculosis, abdominal mass,skin sore without ulceration.
Manipulation ：
Indication ： scrofula, turberculosis, abdominal mass,skin sore without ulceration.
Manipulation ：
Indication ： wind-cold syndrome, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea with deficient cold
syndrome 、 arthralgia of wind-cold syndrome, etc.
Manipulation ：
Indication ： wind-cold syndrome, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea with deficient cold
syndrome 、 arthralgia of wind-cold syndrome, etc.
（ 1 ） ginger
（ 2 ） garlic
slice mash
15. Manipulation ： Shenque()
Indication ：① acute abdominal pain of cold syndrome, vomiting, diarrhea, dysentery, dysuria, etc. ；
② yang collapse.
（ 4 ） fuzi cake
Manipulation ：
Indication ： chronic ulcer ， deficiency-cold syndrome in
surgery
（ 3 ） salt
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2.2 moxibustion
with moxa roll
♦ Moxa roll is prepared by wrapping mugwort
wool (other herbal medicines may be mixed in
it) with a piece of paper. It is cylinder-shaped,
1.5 cm in diameter and 20 cm in length. A
lighted moxa roll is pointed 3 cm to the region
selected and moved upwards and downwards, to
the left and right or around. The patient feels
warm but no scorching.
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2.2 moxibustion with moxa roll
♦ Usually each acupoint
can be moxibusted for
5~7 minutes.
♦ This method can be
used to treat many
kinds of diseases and
syndromes.
18. moxibustion with moxa roll
a.Pure moxa roll
b.Medicated moxa roll
a.Pure moxa roll
b.Medicated moxa roll
灸悬 灸悬
按灸实 按灸实
温和灸温和灸
雀啄灸雀啄灸
回旋灸回旋灸
慢性
病
慢性
病
太乙针灸
雷火针灸
太乙针灸
雷火针灸
急性
病
急性
病
范围
大病较
痛
范围
大病较
痛
、痿痹
虚寒
、痿痹
虚寒
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2.3 Moxibustion
with warmed needles
♦ Moxibustion with warmed needle is a
method of acupuncture combined with
moxibustion. During the retention of the
needle, the needle handle is wrapped with
some moxa or coated with one section of a
moxa roll about 2 cm in length to be
burned. The needle is withdrawn after the
moxa completely burns out and the ash is
cleared.
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2.4 Cautions
♦ Direct moxibustion is inadvisable to
perform on the face, five sense organs, or
the regions with large vessels.
♦ The abdominal region and lumbosacral
region of the gravida should not be
moxibusted.
♦ For the patients with numbness of limbs or
bradyesthesia, moxibustion should be
moderate lest scald be caused.
