Moxibustion therapy has a history of over a thousand years in China, but there are many common misconceptions in the operation process. Here is a detailed analysis for you:
Ai Rong's Misunderstandings in Choosing
Misconception: Believing that the older Ai Rong is, the better. Although moxibustion emphasizes the use of aged moxa, it is not necessarily better to leave it for a longer period of time. Due to prolonged storage time, the volatile oil contained in Artemisia argyi leaves will be depleted, and its effectiveness will be greatly reduced. At the same time, improper storage conditions may also lead to spoilage and deterioration.
The correct approach: It is generally better to choose Ai Rong aged for 3 or 5 years, and there is no need to overly pursue the year.
Misconceptions about Moxibustion Temperature
Misconception content: Many people are afraid that the effect of moxibustion will not be good, so they endure the pain and hold the moxa fire very close to their body, even burning and scalding the skin, thinking that this will cure the disease faster. In fact, they completely misunderstand the efficacy of moxibustion. Moxibustion relies on the infrared energy produced during combustion, which is not available in other plants, to penetrate deep subcutaneous tissues and exert its effects. When the temperature is too high, the body instinctively begins to fight against it. Ai heat is resisted on the surface of the skin, and the body mobilizes internal fluids to counteract the heat. When the water is consumed, it is easy to cause internal heat, leading to dry mouth, dry tongue, dizziness, tinnitus, and other symptoms.
Correct approach: When the moxa stick first burns, the surface flame is intense and the temperature is high. It should be kept at a suitable distance from the skin to feel the heat without causing burns; After burning for a period of time, the surface of the moxa stick will be covered with moxa ash, and the temperature will be relatively calm, so it can be placed closer to the skin. It is appropriate to control the temperature of moxibustion at around 50 degrees, but once it exceeds 60 degrees, it may affect the effectiveness of moxibustion.
Misconceptions about the thickness of mugwort strips
Misconception content: It is natural to think that the thicker the moxa stick, the greater the firepower, and the better the effect.
Correct approach: Coarse moxa sticks are only suitable for people with particularly obvious deficiency cold syndrome. The general population should choose moxa sticks of moderate size. If you blindly choose coarse moxa sticks, it may be like boiling water over a large fire, where the water evaporates too quickly, causing dry mouth, thirst, and constipation. If the yang energy is not replenished, the fire energy will come up first.
Misconceptions about Moxibustion Frequency
Misconception: Believing that frequent moxibustion is better, thinking that it can better regulate the body. But the human body is a whole with a balance of yin and yang. Long term moxibustion and daily moxibustion without intervals can lead to excessive yang energy in the body, which can cause fire and easily damage the meridians and vital energy. If a person who is applying moxibustion for the first time applies it to multiple acupoints for a long time, their body may not be able to tolerate it.
The correct approach is to control the frequency of moxibustion and give the body enough time to adjust. Generally, for children, the total duration of a single moxibustion session should be controlled within 15 minutes, and the younger the age, the shorter the duration; For adults aged 12 and above, including those with weaker physical constitution, the duration should be controlled at around 30-45 minutes; Adults with good physical fitness can control it within 45-60 minutes.
Misconceptions about acupoint selection in moxibustion
Misconception content: Many people, in order to regulate diseases during moxibustion, always think that having fewer acupoints will slow down the effect, and hope that more acupoints can assist in regulating diseases. But if moxa sticks are used to apply moxibustion to multiple acupoints one by one, the prolonged use of moxa sticks can deplete yang energy and have the opposite effect on the treatment of diseases.
Correct approach: Unless other moxibustion tools or moxa patches are used to simultaneously apply moxibustion to acupoints, it is possible to achieve twice the result with half the effort. Otherwise, blindly pursuing multiple acupoints is not advisable.
Misunderstandings of Ai Yan
Misconception: Believing that mugwort is toxic and cannot be inhaled.
The correct approach: As early as in the Compendium of Materia Medica, there are records of using moxa smoke and moxibustion to kill insects, relieve itching, reduce swelling, and relieve pain. Therefore, it cannot be simply assumed that moxa smoke is toxic.