centralforce6661
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2005
- Messages
- 689
This is something everyone can do, irrespective of their age or health conditions, and requires only two items.
One is a lighter, preferably a good gas one or the use of a gas stove top burner will do. Otherwise a candle can be used.
The second is a smokeless moxibustion stick, which should be readily available online in most places for a very small price. Avoid the non smokeless as this is mugwort and the burning of such can smell like marijuana and get you in trouble. The smokeless variety is mug wore which has been charcoaled and thus the smoke and smell produced are minimised to almost nothing.
Using the lighter, light the end of the moxibustion stick until it glows red. Often this may take a good 10-20 seconds under a gas flame, and a few minutes by candle flame. It is important to ensure the whole head of the stick is glowing when you remove the flame.
Ash will form rapidly over the glowing area when you remove the flame, this is fine as the heat will still be generated by the burning charcoal underneath - you will feel this heat very strongly.
Apply the heat to acupuncture points, from a distance initially of 3-4 cm, and move closer or further away as comfort inclines you. The idea is to gently warm the point, not burn it although a little bit of a burning sensation is not too harmful, provided it is not prolonged.
For males doing this over hairy areas, use two fingers of the opposite hand to the one holding the moxibustion stick to flatten the hair around the area you wish to warm otherwise you may burn hairs. Whilst this isn't painful or harmful, it does produce quite a noxious smell.
One of the best points to perform this on regularly, for general health care and prevention is Stomach 36 or Zu San Li on the lateral aspect of the top of the shin, 3 thumb breadths below the knee and 1 finger breadth to the outer side from the crest of the tibia (shin bone).
If you search Stomach 36 location on the internet, you should get some good imagery in the location.
Gentle warming methods such as this over that point, on a regular basis say daily or twice weekly has been shown in research to improve the immune system function and relieve dyspepsia (pain in the gut).
From a tcm perspective, this is a point which nourishes the stomach and thus benefits the whole body by improving what the body can take from food to heal and grow itself.
One is a lighter, preferably a good gas one or the use of a gas stove top burner will do. Otherwise a candle can be used.
The second is a smokeless moxibustion stick, which should be readily available online in most places for a very small price. Avoid the non smokeless as this is mugwort and the burning of such can smell like marijuana and get you in trouble. The smokeless variety is mug wore which has been charcoaled and thus the smoke and smell produced are minimised to almost nothing.
Using the lighter, light the end of the moxibustion stick until it glows red. Often this may take a good 10-20 seconds under a gas flame, and a few minutes by candle flame. It is important to ensure the whole head of the stick is glowing when you remove the flame.
Ash will form rapidly over the glowing area when you remove the flame, this is fine as the heat will still be generated by the burning charcoal underneath - you will feel this heat very strongly.
Apply the heat to acupuncture points, from a distance initially of 3-4 cm, and move closer or further away as comfort inclines you. The idea is to gently warm the point, not burn it although a little bit of a burning sensation is not too harmful, provided it is not prolonged.
For males doing this over hairy areas, use two fingers of the opposite hand to the one holding the moxibustion stick to flatten the hair around the area you wish to warm otherwise you may burn hairs. Whilst this isn't painful or harmful, it does produce quite a noxious smell.
One of the best points to perform this on regularly, for general health care and prevention is Stomach 36 or Zu San Li on the lateral aspect of the top of the shin, 3 thumb breadths below the knee and 1 finger breadth to the outer side from the crest of the tibia (shin bone).
If you search Stomach 36 location on the internet, you should get some good imagery in the location.
Gentle warming methods such as this over that point, on a regular basis say daily or twice weekly has been shown in research to improve the immune system function and relieve dyspepsia (pain in the gut).
From a tcm perspective, this is a point which nourishes the stomach and thus benefits the whole body by improving what the body can take from food to heal and grow itself.
