扬州大学：《中医学》课程教学课件（英文讲稿）Moxibustion methods

Moxibustionmethods

Moxibustion methods

MoxibustionmethodsMoxibustion is a therapy used to treat andprevent diseases by applying burning moxato stimulate the human body.The materialused formoxibustionis mainlyChinesemugwort leaf which is fragrant and easy tobe ignited.It is processed into mugwort woolforclinicaluse

Moxibustion methods ¡ Moxibustion is a therapy used to treat and prevent diseases by applying burning moxa to stimulate the human body. 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

MoxibustionwithmoxaconeMoxa coneisa cone-shaped mugwort wool,thesize of which varies from the size of wheat grain tothe size of a Chinese date (see Fig.124).Themeasurement unitof moxibustioniscalled"Zhuang".The burning out of one moxa cone iscalled one Zhuang.Themoxa cone isplaced onthe acupoint selected inperforming moxibustionMoxibustion with moxa cones is either direct orindirect, depending on whether there is somethingbetweenthemoxacone andtheskin

¡ 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 (see Fig. 124). The measurement unit of moxibustion is called "Zhuang". The burning out of one moxa cone is called one Zhuang. 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

DirectmoxibustionDirect moxibustion means thatthemoxaconeisplaced directlyonthe acupeint andignited.Priorto moxibustion,somegarlicjuice or vaseline can be applied to the site inordertoincreasetheadhesionofthemoxacone to the skin. This type of moxibustion iseither scarringor non-scarring accordingtothe degree of burning over the skin

¡ Direct moxibustion ¡ Direct moxibustion means that the moxa cone is placed directly on the acupeint 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

Non-scarringmoxibustion:When2/5ofamoxacone is burnt, or when the patient feels a burningpain, the cone is replaced by a new one.Themoxibustion continues until thelocal skinbecomesreddish but without blisters.Usuallyeachacupointcanbemoxibustedfor3-7coneswithoutsuppuration and scar formation. So this method ofmoxibustioniseasytobe acceptedbythepatientandis usually usedto treat asthenia-coldsyndrome

¡ 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 be accepted by the patient and is usually used to treat asthenia-cold syndrome

Scarringmoxibustion:Whenthe moxa conecompletelyburns out,itisreplacedby anewoneThisprocedure continues until blistersareformedAbout oneweeklateraftermoxibustionsuppuration is formed at the local region. Andabout5-6weekslaterthewoundhealsautomatically,thescab exfoliatesandscarisformed.It is often used to treat certain chronicdiseases,suchasasthmaandpulmonarytuberculosis

¡ 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

IndirectmoxibustionThe ignited moxa cone isisolated fromthe skinby somematerials,such as ginger and garlic,in orderto avoidburning the skin.A slice of fresh ginger or garlic about O.20.3cmthickisprepared,punchedwithholesandplacedonthe acupoint selected.Ontop of theginger slice,a moxaconeis placed and ignited (see Fig.125).After the moxaconecompletelyburnsout,itisreplacedbyanewoneThis procedureisrepeated until the local skinturnsreddishbut without blisters formed.This method is always usedtotreat obstructive syndromedue to pathogenicwind-coldabdominal pain and diarrheaduetocold

¡ 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 (see Fig. 125). 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. This method is always used to treat obstructive syndrome due to pathogenic wind-cold, abdominal pain and diarrhea due to cold

Moxibustionwithmoxa rollMoxa roll is prepared by wrappingmugwort woolotherherbalmedicinesmaybemixedinit)withapiece of paper.It is cylinder-shaped,1.5 cm indiameterand 20 cmin length.Alightedmoxa roll ispointed 3 cm to the region selected and movedupwards and downwards,to the left and right oraround.The patient feels warm but no scorchingUsuallyeachacupointcanbemoxibustedfor5-7minutes. This method can be used to treat manykinds of diseases and syndromes (seeFig.126)

¡ 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. Alighted 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. Usually each acupoint can be moxibusted for 5- 7 minutes. This method can be used to treat many kinds of diseases and syndromes (see Fig. 126)

MoxibustionwithwarmedneedlesMoxibustion with warmed needle is a method ofacupuncture combined with moxibustion.Duringthe retention of the needle,the needlehandle iswrapped withsomemoxaor coatedwithonesectionofa moxaroll about2cm inlengthto beburned.The needle is withdrawn after the moxacompletelyburns out andtheashisclearedMoxibustion with warmed needle canbe usedtotreatvariouscommondiseases

¡ 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. Moxibustion with warmed needle can be used to treat various common diseases

CautionsDirect moxibustion is inadvisableto perform ontheface,fivesense organs,ortheregions withlargevessels.Theabdominal region and lumbosacralregion of the gravida should not be moxibustedForthepatientswithnumbnessof limbsorbradyesthesia,moxibustionshouldbemoderatelestscaldbecaused

¡ 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