The bible book of TCM had mentioned “春夏养阳”. It means during spring season (February-April), we will have the phenomena of Qi lifting in the liver organ. Besides, it is also a good timing for Qi nourishment in the body. Among the therapies of TCM, moxibustion is one of the recommended treatments. Nevertheless, we are eligible to do moxibustion throughout the year and not restricted at spring season only.
Moxibustion, is a kind of the treatment uses dried herbal leaves that pressed into a packed paper container, these herbal leaves are then named as moxa. Moxa is used as the raw material, when ignited it will be placed near at the acupuncture point and heat up to enhance the functionality of the acupuncture point and their related organ.
Moxibustion could be heated up in two ways:
1. to place at the acupuncture point directly
2. to place at the acupuncture point indirectly, such as the moxa put on top of the ginger.
Moxa have different shapes:
1. short moxa
2. long moxa
3. Moxa cum acupuncture
During moxibustion, we could either use by hand manually or the moxibustion tool. When we use by hand manually, we put the moxa above the skin level for a distance gap of 4-5cm. During moxibustion, the process of heating will not cause a heaty injury due to the adequate gap. As when using moxibustion tool, we will put it at the level of flat skin. The duration of moxibustion for both execution takes around 15-30 minutes.
Spring season is time when the energy rises. The energy in the body is also tending to rise and flow forwarding. If the energy flow is blocked somewhere, it will be heated up. According to the theory of “Five Elements”, spring season belong to Wood, the liver also belong to Wood, if it happened that the energy flow is blocked, the liver is discomfort and it will affect the Earth, which is the stomach, hence affecting the digestion system. During spring season, it rains a lot too, the dampness tending to cause the sickness of digestive system. As a result, during spring season, we will do moxibustion to strengthen the digestive system.
Acupoint for digestive system
1. CV 8 Shenque
2. CV 6 Qihai
3. ST 36 Zusanli
Timing of moxibustion
1. It is recommended to perform moxibustion during day time. For example: During noon hour, the energy is fullest bar in the body. If we perform moxibustion, it helps boost up the immunity system and get rid of sickness.
2. It is not advisable to do moxibustion during night time. It might affect the sleeping quality.
3. Every time we perform moxibustion for 15-30 minutes. Not advisable to do it for too long.
Things to be taken precaution during moxibustion:
1. Moxibustion is suitable for people with cold body type. The reason is because moxibustion is a warm method. Heaty body category type of people are not advisable to perform moxibustion. For instance, people who are constipation with heaty type are not advisable to use moxibustion treatment, it will worsen the constipation. People with skin rashes issues after moxibustion treatment will get worsen too.
2. Part such as face with thin skin layer are not advisable to do moxibustion.
When fatigue, hungry or in a tension situation, it is also not advisable to do moxibustion.
4. During the treatment of moxibustion, we need to be fully concentrated to avoid flesh injury due to overheat.
5. After moxibustion, it is highly recommended to shower at least after an hour and above. Avoid direct exposure to cold wind. If more volume of moxibustion done, gap of time to shower need to be bigger as during moxibustion, skin pores will be opened, if we shower or exposed to wind right after doing treatment, sickness occurs easier.
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