Moxibustion method, one of the moxibustion therapies, also known as moxa roll moxibustion. It is to ignite the moxibustion patch and place it on the acupoint or the location of the disease to carry out fumigation. It can also add pungent, warm, fragrant medicine to the moxa wool to make a medicine moxibustion patch, known as medicine stick moxibustion. This method is simple to apply and has excellent practical effects, and is commonly used in clinical medicine at present. The moxibustion method has developed into four types: pure moxibustion, medicine moxibustion, intermedicinal moxibustion, and smokeless moxibustion.

Efficacy and Indications

The functions of moxibustion include:

1. Warm and Dredge Channels, Remove Dampness

It can be used to treat diseases caused by dampness and pathogenic factors.

2. Correctly Guide Blood and Qi

It can raise kidney Qi or guide Qi downward, and can treat the syndrome of Qi descending and liver Yang surging.

3. Revive Yang and Elevate Defect, Tonify Qi and Blood to Strengthen the Root

Treating Qi and Blood Deficiency Syndrome

4. Invigorate Qi and Promote Blood Circulation, Disperse Blood Stasis and Swelling

It can treat various kinds of pain and cold boils, etc. Moxibustion therapy is more suitable for chronic diseases, such as Yin deficiency with internal heat, such as long diarrhea, phlegm turbidity, edema, flaccidity, arthralgia, abdominal pain, stomachache, impotence, bedwetting, hernia, deficiency, menstrual hemorrhage, prolapse of the uterus, apoplexy, external medicine, scrofula, goiter, etc.

The Making of Moxibustion Patches

1. Moxa Stick without Medicine

Place 24 grams of moxa wool flat on a 26 cm long, 20 cm wide mulberry paper (or soft and firm fine white cotton paper), fold it into a cylinder with a diameter of 1.5 cm, the tighter, the better, and seal it with strong glue. There are commercially available ones.

2. Medicinal Moxibustion Patch

There are two common prescriptions: the Lei Huo Shen Zhen Prescription (from the Great Achievements in Acupuncture and Moxibustion) is composed of agathis wood,甘松, frankincense, artemisia,羌活, dried ginger, Chinese pangolin, and a small amount of myrrha; the Taiyi Shen Zhen Prescription (a general prescription) is composed of sulfur powder, myrrha, frankincense, myrrha, resin, cinnamon, du Zhong, Jiá Qú, Zào Jiǎo, Xiāo Xīn, Chinese pangolin, realgar, white peony root, and Quán Chóng. One of the prescriptions is selected, and the medicinal powder is ground and mixed evenly. A Suanbipi paper is flattened, and 24 grams of moxa and 6 grams of medicinal powder are evenly spread on the paper, then rolled up like firecrackers, covered with egg white, and then covered with another layer of Suanbipi paper. The two sides leave about 3 cm of paper, and then roll it up to form it.

Moxibustion Point Method

Moxibustion methods are generally divided into suspended moxibustion and pressing moxibustion.

1. Suspended Moxibustion

It involves hanging the moxibustion patch at a certain height from the acupoint without allowing the ignited end to directly contact the skin. Suspended moxibustion usually uses drug-free moxa sticks, and sometimes it can also use medicated moxibustion patches for fumigation.

(1) Gentle Moxibustion: The ignited end of the moxibustion patch is kept about 3 cm away from the skin of the application area, so that the patient does not feel heat or pain. Each acupoint is moxibustion for about 20 minutes, until the skin appears faintly red. For those who are unconscious or have reduced sensation, it is necessary to pay attention to the local heat and humidity at all times to avoid burning. In recent years, various types of Chinese moxibustion racks have been developed, which can be used to insert the moxibustion patch, fixing the moxibustion acupoint. The characteristic of this moxibustion therapy is that the temperature is relatively stable and continuous, which has a dispersing effect on local blood and Qi blockage, and is mainly used for local Chinese moxibustion therapy.

(2) Rotating Moxibustion: The ignited end of the moxibustion patch is placed close to the moxibustion acupoint, about 3 cm away from the skin, and the acupoint is moxibustion in a parallel back and forth motion. Generally, it is moxibustion for 20 to 30 minutes. The characteristic of this moxibustion therapy is that the temperature gradually changes from cool to warm, which not only has a dissolving effect on the blood and Qi blockage of local diseases but also has a promoting effect on the operation of meridian Qi, so it has a certain therapeutic effect on distant diseases at the moxibustion point.

(3) Pecking Moxibustion: The ignited end of the moxibustion patch is pointed towards the acupoint, resembling a bird pecking at rice, performing up and down moxibustion. It usually follows the rhythm of breathing. Generally, it can be moxibustion for 15 minutes or so. The characteristic of this moxibustion therapy is that the temperature is suddenly cool and then warm, which has a strong effect on awakening acupoints and meridians, thus it is suitable for treating distant diseases and internal organ diseases.

2. Pressing Moxibustion

It includes Taiyi Acupuncture and Fire Thunder Acupuncture. Taiyi Acupuncture uses pure, soft, and fine moxa and sulfur powder, myrrha, frankincense, and other medicinal herbs, spread evenly on a 40 cm3 Suanbipi paper. Then, 24 grams of pre-prepared medicinal powder mixed with moxa is tightly layered to resemble firecrackers, one end is ignited, and it is wrapped with multiple layers of cloth (usually 7 layers) and immediately pressed onto the acupoint or injury site for moxibustion. If the moxibustion cools down, it is re-ignited and continued. This process is repeated 7 to 10 times.