The dog days of summer have arrived. The dog days refer to the hottest period of the year, and many people choose to do moxibustion during this time. What are the benefits of moxibustion in the dog days? When should moxibustion be started during this time?
Promotes Blood Circulation
For office workers who sit for long periods of time, their bodies can become stagnant and they often experience body aches. Moxibustion, with its ability to promote blood circulation, can help alleviate these symptoms. During the dog days, when the temperature is at its highest, the body's pores are open. This is an ideal time to do moxibustion to facilitate the flow of qi and blood, and to warm and open the meridians.
Improves Digestion
The dog days are the hottest period of the year, and many people experience a loss of appetite during this time. Moxibustion can stimulate acupoints and enhance the function of the digestive system, increasing appetite and promoting digestion.
Warms and Tonifies the Kidneys
During the dog days, the body's yang energy is at its peak. Moxibustion can strengthen the body and help maintain good health, especially for those with deficient yang and kidney energy.
Prolongs Life
Moxibustion during the dog days is a traditional Chinese practice that can help eliminate stasis in the body, promote metabolism, and enhance the immune system. For the elderly, whose immune function may be declining, moxibustion can contribute to a longer and healthier life.
Should Moxibustion be done every day during the dog days?
There is no need to do moxibustion every day.
Moxibustion is a method of health preservation that is suitable for occasional use. Doing moxibustion too frequently can damage the skin barrier and cause harm to the body. In addition, moxibustion during the dog days should be done in accordance with the time period, following the dates specified for the dog days. Simply follow the schedule for the dog days and there is no need to do moxibustion every day.
How to do moxibustion during the dog days?
For Dampness: Moxibustion to Dispels Dampness
Dampness in the body can lead to various symptoms such as headaches, body aches, laziness, and fatigue. If not treated, it can also cause conditions like rheumatism, swelling, obesity, and dull complexion.
Key acupoints for moxibustion: Guanyuan, Zusanli, Zhongwan, Jiexi, Fenglong.
For Air Conditioning Syndrome: Moxibustion to Warm Yang
The joints, such as the knees and shoulders, are directly exposed to cold air from the air conditioning, which can accelerate joint aging. This is especially true for people who work at a desk for long periods of time and have little physical activity, leading to symptoms such as shoulder and neck pain.
Key acupoints for moxibustion: Fengchi, Dazhui.
For Cold Uterus: Moxibustion to Warm the Uterus
A cold uterus is a major cause of female aging, and it can manifest as dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, and cold hands and feet. If left untreated, it can lead to infertility, frigidity, and a protruding belly.
Key acupoints for moxibustion: Guanyuan, Shénquè (also known as the navel), Qihai, Mingmen.
When should moxibustion be started during the dog days?
First, let's take a look at the schedule for the dog days this year.
Early Dog Days: July 17, 2018 - July 26, 2018, 10 days
Mid Dog Days: July 27, 2018 - August 15, 2018, 20 days
Late Dog Days: August 16, 2018 - August 25, 2018, 10 days
Based on the schedule for the dog days, we can determine the moxibustion schedule.
Pre-Dog Days Moxibustion: July 7, 2018
Early Dog Days Moxibustion: July 17, 2018
Mid Dog Days Moxibustion: July 27, 2018
Late Dog Days Moxibustion: August 16, 2018
Post-Dog Days Moxibustion: August 26, 2018
What other health preservation methods are there during the dog days?
Apply Dog Days Plasters
Dog days plasters are made from traditional Chinese medicine. Applying a plaster during the dog days can help the body accumulate yang energy and prevent the body from being harmed by cold air during the winter, thus preventing diseases.
Steam Bathing
The body accumulates toxins from consuming various grains and cereals. Over time, this can lead to health problems. During the dog days, when the body's pores are open, steam bathing can accelerate the body's metabolism and eliminate deep-rooted impurities.
Drink Ginger Jujube Tea
The dog days are the hottest period of the year, and the body's pores are open during this time. This can easily lead to yang deficiency. Drinking a cup of ginger jujube tea during this time can nourish the body and eliminate excess cold air from the body, promoting health and well-being.
Soak Your Feet
During winter, blood circulation in the body slows down. The feet are located at the farthest point from the body, so blood circulation to the feet is relatively slow. Therefore, microcirculation in the feet is often not very efficient. Soaking your feet during the dog days can promote blood circulation and remove waste products from the body, preventing and treating winter diseases.
Cupping Therapy
Many people often suffer from back pain. This is often caused by blockages in the body's meridians. Cupping therapy during the dog days can help unblock the meridians and provide relief from fatigue.
