What is moxibustion in Dog Days? Is moxibustion good for health in Dog Days?

Moxibustion is a relatively commonly used traditional Chinese medicine physical therapy method. Properly performed, it can bring many benefits to the human body, and it also has many health-preserving effects. So what is moxibustion in Dog Days? Is moxibustion good for health in Dog Days? Moxibustion in summer also has many health benefits, but there are also many things to pay attention to. Let’s learn more about it below.

1. Benefits of moxibustion on Dog Days

(1) Assisting in curing diseases

Moxibustion on Dog Days can help the body to cure diseases. During the moxibustion process, the pure yang of moxa fire and the yang energy emitted by the body in Dog Day work together on the body's lesions, expelling wind, cold, dampness, poison, dryness, etc. from the body, helping to open up the body's veins and eliminate diseases. Strengthen your body.

(2) Warming the kidneys and replenishing yang

Moxibustion during the dog days can help warm the kidneys and replenish yang. Moxibustion can locally act on acupuncture points such as Shenshu, Guanyuan, and Sanyinjiao of the body, and help replenish deficiency and damage through warm stimulation, enhance the body's yang energy, and nourish the kidneys and strengthen yang.

(3) Promoting qi and activating blood

Moxibustion in the dog days can help to promote qi and blood. The movement of qi and blood can disperse when it encounters warmth and coagulate when it encounters cold. Thermal stimulation helps warm and unblock the meridians, promote the circulation of qi and blood, and help expel cold and damp evil poisons from the body.

(4) Relieve inflammation

Moxibustion during the dog days can help relieve inflammation in the body. The weather is hot in the dog days of summer, and people with wounds on the body are prone to infection and inflammation. Moxibustion can help improve the phagocytosis of macrophages and the vitality of thymocytes, enhance the immunity of human cells and body fluids, prevent the occurrence of inflammation, and also Can relieve inflammation.

(5) Promote digestion

Moxibustion during the dog days can help promote digestion. During the hot weather in the dog days of summer, the function of the digestive system is limited, and loss of appetite is prone to occur. Moxibustion on body acupuncture points can strengthen the function of the digestive system and enhance the body's absorption of nutrients.

(6) Beauty and Beauty

Moxibustion in the dog days of summer can also help with skin care and beauty. Moxibustion can speed up the blood circulation of the skin, making the skin white, tender and rosy. It can also help improve skin problems such as eye bags, dark circles, drooping eyelids, and sagging wrinkles.

2. Commonly used acupuncture points for moxibustion in Dog Days

(1) Renmai acupoint Guanyuan

Guanyuan is located in the lower abdomen, on the front midline, when the umbilicus Three inches lower. To select acupoints simply, put four fingers together, place them horizontally under the navel, and select acupoints at the lower edge of the little finger.

The functions of Guanyuan point: warming kidney yang, increasing desire, replenishing deficiency, and aphrodisiac. Guanyuan point is the recruitment point of the small intestine meridian, and also the intersection point of the spleen meridian, liver meridian, kidney meridian and Ren meridian. Located in the lower burner, it contains the kidneys, small intestine, bladder, uterine uterus, prostate and other internal organs and tissues, so there are diseases governing the three Yin meridians and Ren meridians.

It has the functions of tonifying the kidneys and strengthening yang, warming and unblocking the meridians, regulating qi and blood, replenishing deficiency and loss, and replenishing the vitality of the whole body. It is where men store their semen and women store their blood. This point has been regarded as an important point for health care since ancient times.

(2) Zusanli

Zusanli is located on the front and outside of the calf, 3 inches below the calf’s nose and one finger across from the front edge of the tibia. When pressed, there is an obvious sense of soreness. Zusanli is the most commonly used acupoint in the human body. It is the representative acupoint where the spleen and stomach are the foundation of acquired nature and the source of qi and blood biochemistry. In my clinical practice, Zusanli is the first choice for qi deficiency and blood deficiency, and Zusanli is the first choice for digestive diseases.

One acupuncture point should be used for no less than 10 minutes at a time. If the body is poor and the qi and blood are poor, the moxibustion time will need to be longer. It is best to massage and then moxibustion for the best effect. Observe for yourself, if you insist on moxibustion at Zusanli for 10 days, you will feel that your energy is better, you are getting enough sleep, your food is delicious, and your complexion is rosy.

(3) Zhongwan point

Zhongwan point is on the upper abdomen, on the front midline, 4 inches above the umbilicus. To simply select the acupoint, use four fingers horizontally above the navel of your own hand. Zhongwan point is a Fuhui point, and it is also the recruitment point of the stomach, so it has a regulating effect on the functions of the six fu organs.

It is especially effective for various diseases of the stomach. In short, it is mainly used to treat the digestive system, such as stomach pain, abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, regurgitation, indigestion, bowel sounds, diarrhea, constipation, Blood in the stool, gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal bulb ulcer and other diseases of the spleen and stomach that are commonly referred to nowadays are all treated.

(4) Shenque

Shenque is what we commonly call the "belly button". We know that when the fetus is in the mother's body, it is connected to the placenta by the umbilical cord to receive nutrition from the mother's body. Since ancient times, everyone has paid great attention to the maintenance of the Shenque, calling the Shenque the "innate origin of the human body and the foundation of life."

Moxibustion is preferred at this point but acupuncture is prohibited. It can warm the yang, resuscitate and consolidate the spleen and stomach, replenish qi and nourish blood. It has preventive and therapeutic effects on indigestion, diarrhea, diarrhea, asthma, etc. It also has the effects of improving immunity, regulating organ function, and delaying aging.

3. Issues to note when using moxibustion in Dog Days

(1) Qi and blood issues

Moxibustion is to mobilize your own qi and blood to eliminate enemies in the body. It will deplete your own Qi and blood to some extent, so you should pay attention to replenishing Qi and blood. But if you persist in moxibustion, the yang energy in your body will eventually prevail over the evil energy.

(2) Moxibustion time issue

In principle, moxibustion can be done at any time of the day. The best time for moxibustion is in the morning, morning > afternoon > evening. It is best not to do moxibustion after 10 o'clock in the evening. It is suitable to nourish yin at night.

Exception: If you are treating insomnia, moxibustion before going to bed is more effective. Among the four seasons, summer is the best time to remove cold and dampness, replenish yang and cure winter diseases in summer.

(3) Moxibustion sequence issue

General principles: first up then down, back first then front, left first then right, body first then limbs. Some individual acupuncture points will have their own order.

(4) Frequency of moxibustion

If there is no physical pain, moxibustion on health-care acupoints should be performed every 5-7 days, for about 3-5 minutes per acupoint. If you have colds and other illnesses, or if your body is cold and severe, you can moxibustion the corresponding acupoints for a longer time, 5-15 minutes is fine. If you are not in pain, do not moxibustion every day, as it is easy to get angry (dry mouth, constipation, acne, nosebleeds, etc.)

4. Precautions for moxibustion in the dog days of summer

(1) Before moxibustion

1. Because wind cannot blow during moxibustion, please close the doors and windows before moxibustion and do not allow ventilation in the room. Even in summer, ventilation and air conditioning are not allowed.

2. Moxibustion should not be performed immediately after a meal. Moxibustion can only be performed 1 hour after a meal because moxibustion is not allowed if you are too full.

(2) During moxibustion

1. Do not be overly full or hungry during moxibustion. Do not use moxibustion when you are feeling sad, happy or angry. Keep your mood calm and relaxed.

2. During moxibustion, you must drink more warm water to facilitate detoxification. The water temperature can be slightly higher. You can't drink cold water, even in summer.

3. If moisture appears on the surface of acupuncture points during moxibustion, it means that the cold air in the body is discharged through the acupuncture points. If the cold air in the body is severe, moxibustion will have an effect.

(3) After moxibustion

1. Do not wash your hands and face with cold water within half an hour after moxibustion. After moxibustion, the pores of the whole body are opened, making it easy to catch cold.

2. Do not take a bath immediately after moxibustion. The same principle applies. Normally, I take a bath before doing moxibustion. Or after moxibustion, wait a few hours before taking a shower.

3. After moxibustion, it is normal if you feel tired, weak and mentally exhausted. At this time, the body is resting and recuperating, so you can take a short break without straining.

5. What should you pay attention to when performing moxibustion in the Dog Days?

(1) Reasonably choose the amount of moxibustion

When performing moxibustion in the Dog Days, you should pay attention to the control of the amount of moxibustion. . If it is direct moxibustion, you should choose small or medium sticks; for indirect moxibustion, use medium or large sticks. In addition, the appropriate amount of moxibustion can be selected based on factors such as age, physical strength, etc.

(2) Reasonable selection of body positions

When performing moxibustion in the dog days of summer, you should pay attention to choosing the correct and reasonable body position. Generally, a comfortable, natural position where the whole body can relax is appropriate. If frail and elderly people perform moxibustion in the dog days of summer, they should avoid scar moxibustion and sky moxibustion to avoid fainting due to pain.

(3) Reasonably choose the time

When performing moxibustion in the dog days of summer, you should pay attention to the time should be controlled within 3 to 5 minutes. Generally speaking, if it is moxibustion on the limbs or chest, the time should be longer. Shorter, the time on the abdomen and back can be slightly longer; the moxibustion time on the elderly, children, and women can be slightly shorter, and the moxibustion time on young adults can be slightly longer.

(4) Reasonable moxibustion sequence

When performing moxibustion in the dog days of summer, you should pay attention to the general sequence: first up and then down, first the back and abdomen, first the head and then the limbs, In terms of meridians selection, moxibustion is performed on the yang meridians first, then the yin meridians, and so on. Be careful not to reverse the order at will to avoid accidents.

(5) Pay attention to keeping warm during moxibustion

When performing moxibustion in the dog days of summer, you should pay attention to keeping your body warm. Although the weather is very hot in the dog days of summer, you should still avoid catching cold during moxibustion. In particular, avoid drafts while maintaining indoor air circulation.

(6) Correct conditioning after moxibustion

After moxibustion in the dog days of summer, you must perform correct conditioning, such as keeping the local area clean and dry. Especially after moxibustion, if there is a local burn caused by improper operation, you must be careful not to break the sore. If it has broken, you must continue anti-inflammatory treatment in time.

In addition, when performing moxibustion in the dog days of summer, you should pay attention to a light diet and avoid eating cold, greasy food. And in principle, it is not advisable to wash hands or take a bath with cold water immediately after having sex for a long time, nor is it advisable to have sex immediately.

(7) Moxibustion cannot be performed at will.

Be careful when performing it in the dog days of summer and do not perform it at will. In general, moxibustion cannot be performed on the face to avoid burns; suppurative moxibustion should not be used on active parts of joints to prevent it from being difficult to heal after suppuration; direct moxibustion is not allowed on important organs, large blood vessels, etc.; women during menstruation and pregnancy should not perform random moxibustion on the waist, lumbosacral area, etc. Moxibustion and so on.

6. Taboos of moxibustion

1. Places with thin skin, few muscles, and muscle gatherings, the lumbosacral and lower abdomen of pregnant women, nipples of men and women, and female private parts Do not perform moxibustion on the penis, testicles, etc. In addition, do not moxibustion directly on the joints. In addition, do not moxibustion on large blood vessels or the heart, and do not moxibustion on the eyeballs, which belong to the face.

2. Do not apply direct moxibustion to any exposed parts, such as the face, to prevent scar formation and affect the appearance.

3. Moxibustion is contraindicated if you are extremely tired, too hungry, too full, drunk, sweating profusely, or emotionally unstable.

4. Moxibustion should not be used during certain infectious diseases, high fever, coma, convulsions, or extreme physical exhaustion, such as emaciation and bone loss.

5. People who have no self-control, such as mental patients, should avoid moxibustion.