Qi and blood deficiency is a common problem among many women. The causes of qi and blood deficiency are not only internal factors but also mostly due to unhealthy lifestyle habits. Insufficient qi and blood in the body can directly or indirectly lead to various diseases, so traditional Chinese medicine recommends using moxibustion to regulate qi and blood deficiency.
【Causes of Qi and Blood Deficiency】
1. Disrupted sleep schedule
Modern women face the dual pressures of family and work, leading to excessive fatigue and irregular sleep patterns. Poor sleep quality prevents the body from recovering well, resulting in long-term qi and blood deficiency in women.
2. Reduced physical activity
Most diseases cannot be prevented or treated without moderate and reasonable exercise, as exercise effectively enhances bodily functions and keeps the body in a healthy state.
However, modern women's lives are often busy, and they often neglect their own exercise, leading to a reduction in physical activity. Due to the reduced physical activity, blood circulation is affected, hindering the generation of qi and blood, ultimately causing symptoms of qi and blood deficiency in women.
3. Insufficient energy supply
The occurrence of various diseases not only depletes the body's own energy but also continuously consumes the body's blood and qi.
If diseases are not treated in a timely manner, combined with an improper diet and an unbalanced nutrition, insufficient energy supply can occur, leading to symptoms of qi and blood deficiency.
【Methods of Moxibustion to Supplement Qi and Blood】
1. Suspended moxibustion
Hold the moxa stick with one hand, with the base of the palm supporting the stability of the moxa stick. Place the index and middle fingers of the other hand separately on the moxibustion site to prevent burning the patient with excessive heat.
Move the moxa stick up and down above the moxibustion site, with the distance of moxibustion generally based on the patient's self-perceived mild warmth. Depending on different constitutions, the distance of moxibustion can vary from 2 to 10 centimeters.
2. Moxibustion with garlic barrier
Cut garlic into thin slices about 0.5 centimeters thick, make a small hole in the middle, and place it on the acupoint for moxibustion with a moxa stick.
3. Moxibustion with ginger barrier
Cut fresh ginger into thin slices about 0.5 centimeters thick, make several small holes in the center with a needle, place a moxa stick on top, and moxibustion on the acupoint. When feeling the burning sensation, slightly lift the ginger slice away from the skin for a moment, then put it back down and continue moxibustion. Repeat this process until the local skin appears reddish.
【Acupoints for Moxibustion to Supplement Qi and Blood】
1. Guan Yuan (Gate of Origin) acupoint
Guan Yuan is located three inches below the navel. In ancient times, it was believed to be the place where men stored essence and women stored blood. Regular moxibustion and massage of this acupoint can potentially nourish the primordial qi, kidney qi, and regulate qi and blood.
2. Shen Yu (Kidney) acupoint
The kidney is the innate foundation. With sufficient kidney yang, our body's organs, limbs, muscles, bones, and spirits can receive warmth, blood circulation can be smooth, and muscles and bones can be strong. Moxibustion on the Shen Yu acupoint can help regulate blood, enhance kidney function, and strengthen the body's primordial qi.
3. Xue Hai (Sea of Blood) acupoint
Hold your knee bone with the palm of your hand (right palm on the left knee, left palm on the right knee), with the fingers facing upwards and the palm naturally open. This acupoint is located under the thumb. Xue Hai is an important acupoint for treating blood disorders and has the functions of promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, nourishing blood, and guiding blood back to the meridians.
4. San Yin Jiao (Three Yin Intersection) acupoint
San Yin Jiao is the first choice acupoint for regulating gynecological issues. Daily moxibustion on the San Yin Jiao acupoint for 10 to 20 minutes, until the skin becomes slightly red, can help strengthen the spleen, nourish blood, soothe the liver, and tonify the kidneys. It is effective for various gynecological disorders such as anemia, scanty menstruation, stagnant blood causing menstrual pain, premenstrual irritability, and infertility caused by leucorrhea, among others.
