When it comes to moxibustion therapy for women, the Shenque acupoint, also known as the belly button, is often targeted. What are the gynecological benefits of moxibustion on the belly button?
Improving Menstrual Irregularities
1. Early Menstruation
Early menstruation can be caused by insufficient spleen qi. The spleen is responsible for managing blood, and if it is not functioning properly, it can lead to rebellion. At the same time, spleen deficiency can cause dampness, yin deficiency, and endocrine disorders, resulting in excessive yang qi or depression. Moxibustion helps regulate the spleen and kidney deficiencies that cause insufficient spleen qi by promoting yang qi and balancing the body. It can improve endocrine disorders, activate the uterus and ovaries, and alleviate early menstruation.
2. Delayed Menstruation
Delayed menstruation, with scanty and dark menstrual flow and difficulty in discharge, can be caused by phlegm obstruction, dampness, blood deficiency, pale complexion, and lower abdominal pain. Moxibustion on the belly button can dispel cold and dampness, improve blood circulation, and promote the discharge of blood clots and phlegm, thus alleviating menstrual blockage caused by excessive uterine phlegm and improving menstrual flow.
Alleviating Uterine Coldness
Insomnia, excessive dreams, scanty menstruation with blood clots and lack of ovulation (ovaries do not ovulate at low temperatures), increased vaginal discharge, breast tenderness, and dysmenorrhea can be improved through moxibustion on the belly button. Moxibustion with moxa sticks and far-infrared radiation can warm the uterus, dispel coldness, improve blood circulation, and increase uterine temperature and activity.
Assisting in the Treatment of Gynecological Inflammation
Due to the proximity of the female vaginal and urethral openings to the anus, they are prone to infections and bacterial growth. When the female reproductive organs are exposed to pathogens due to weakened resistance, vaginal acidity can be disrupted. Moxibustion can enhance the body's immune system, improve the uterine environment, protect against bacterial invasion, accelerate the metabolism of uterine secretions, and promote self-repair and metabolism.
Treating Temporary Amenorrhea
Temporary amenorrhea can be caused by excessive emotional and psychological stress, hormonal imbalances, fibroids, cysts, polyps, and thickened endometrium. Moxibustion on the belly button can effectively relieve emotions, relax the nerves, warm the uterus through moxibustion, and activate uterine contractions, allowing the endometrium to shed rhythmically. Most fibroids are caused by the accumulation of menstrual blood due to inadequate uterine discharge. Long-term moxibustion can effectively improve uterine discharge and eliminate waste products in the uterus.
Relieving Constipation
Constipation is the source of many diseases in the body. Insufficient water and fiber intake, prolonged stress, and mental factors can disrupt normal bowel movements. Moxibustion can increase gastrointestinal peristalsis, improve constipation, and eliminate intestinal gas. The rumbling sound in the abdomen during moxibustion is an indication of improved gastrointestinal motility. After moxibustion, it is important to drink plenty of water to facilitate detoxification and bowel movements. Moxibustion also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, helps dispel coldness, and repairs discomfort in the stomach caused by gastric distension and gastric ulcers.
Delaying Aging
The excessive production of free radicals leads to a decline in body function, imbalanced endocrine hormones in the ovaries, and slow metabolism in the uterus. A balanced uterus is essential for maintaining youthful appearance and smooth skin in women. Moxibustion on the Qihai, Guanyuan, Guilai, and Shenque acupoints can regulate the body's qi and blood, warm and invigorate the meridians, and stimulate the body's self-repair and metabolism.
Improving Abdominal Obesity
The human body has a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius. If the uterus is exposed to coldness, it will feel cold, and the body will start to protect itself by accumulating fat in the uterus to resist the cold. This is the root cause of abdominal obesity in most women. Moxibustion on the belly button can warm the waist and abdomen, dispel coldness, promote metabolism, and burn fat. Increasing body temperature by one degree can increase metabolism by twelve percent.
Improving Sexual Apathy
Sexual apathy is characterized by a lack of sensation, dryness, tightness, pain, dullness, atrophy of sexual organs, cell dehydration, low vitality, excessive vaginal discharge, and a lack of interest in sex due to gynecological inflammation. Moxibustion on the belly button can enhance kidney qi and overall body qi and blood, moxibustion on Qihai and Guanyuan acupoints can invigorate the whole body's vitality, stimulate the ovaries and uterus, improve inflammation, and bring freshness to women.
Moxibustion Detoxification Reactions
1. Thirst
After moxibustion, symptoms of overheating may occur, such as dry mouth, swollen gums, dizziness, etc. Moxibustion excels in tonifying yang qi, and after moxibustion, the balance between yin and yang in the body is temporarily disrupted, causing an upward movement of yang qi, which manifests as symptoms of overheating. This is generally considered a normal reaction, especially common in autumn and winter moxibustion.
2. Blistering
Blisters can occur during moxibustion due to the release of water vapor caused by the expulsion of cold pathogens. Sometimes blisters may appear without awareness. The appearance of blisters indicates the effectiveness of moxibustion. The blisters can be punctured with a needle, and moxibustion can continue with the moxa stick held in hand. Moxibustion has antibacterial properties and promotes healing, so bandaging is generally not necessary. During the healing process, there may be continuous excretion of fluid, and the healing time varies from person to person, usually between one to two weeks. It is important to keep the blister dry during this period.
3. Itching
During or after moxibustion, the skin may feel itchy. Itchy skin during moxibustion indicates the presence of cold pathogens on the body surface. Itchy skin that appears after a period of moxibustion indicates deeper cold pathogens. These are all signs of the effectiveness of moxibustion, and persistence in moxibustion can alleviate the itching.
4. Spots or Red Dots on the Skin
Spots or red dots may appear on the skin during moxibustion. Spots may appear as areas of red and white skin, while red dots may have an itchy sensation. Spots are often caused by excessive dampness and coldness in the body and usually disappear after a period of moxibustion, along with an improvement in the body's constitution. Red dots are often caused by excessive dampness and coldness in the body and may appear after a period of moxibustion. They can gradually be relieved with continued moxibustion.
5. Insomnia or Drowsiness
Insomnia after moxibustion is more likely to occur during a certain period of moxibustion and is usually caused by the expulsion of cold pathogens. Some individuals may experience a period of sleeplessness and discomfort. However, most individuals will feel an improvement in their condition after this period.
Drowsiness after moxibustion is common. After the restoration of yin and yang during moxibustion, the body's positive and negative energies will struggle with each other. Sleep provides a good battlefield for this struggle and helps the body recover. It is advisable to rest appropriately during this time and avoid moxibustion too late at night.
6. Increased Urination
Some people may experience increased urine output after moxibustion. This is a manifestation of toxin elimination through the urinary system. It is important to drink plenty of water during this time, as it is a normal reaction that will gradually disappear.
Frequent urination after moxibustion may indicate poor kidney and urinary system function in general, and in women, it may indicate gynecological issues.
7. Diarrhea
Some individuals may experience frequent and smelly diarrhea after moxibustion. This is another way the body eliminates toxins. Those experiencing this reaction may have gastrointestinal or tumor-related issues.
Precautions for Moxibustion
1. Stay Focused and Persevere
During moxibustion, it is important to maintain concentration and avoid distractions to prevent the moxa stick from moving off the acupoint. For health maintenance, moxibustion should be performed regularly rather than occasionally to achieve the desired effects.
2. Pay Attention to Proper Body Position and Acupoint Accuracy
The body position should be suitable for moxibustion and ensure comfort and naturalness. Acupoint locations should be accurately identified based on the prescription to ensure the effectiveness of moxibustion.
3. Fire Safety
Modern clothing materials, such as synthetic fibers and down, are highly flammable. Therefore, caution should be exercised to prevent accidental fires, especially when using moxa sticks. After moxibustion with moxa sticks, the burning end can be extinguished by inserting it into a slightly larger bottle.
4. Maintain Warmth and Prevent Heatstroke
During moxibustion, certain body areas are exposed, so it is important to keep warm in winter and prevent heatstroke in hot weather. It is also important to regulate indoor temperature and use fans for ventilation to ensure fresh air circulation.
5. Prevent Infection
Suppurative moxibustion or improper moxibustion may lead to the formation of ulcers. If the ulcer becomes infected, it is important to use anti-inflammatory drugs promptly.
6. Follow the Correct Moxibustion Procedure
If multiple acupoints are moxibusted, the order should be back first, then chest and abdomen, and finally head and limbs.
7. Pay Attention to Moxibustion Timing
Some conditions require specific moxibustion timings, such as moxibustion before bedtime for insomnia. Avoid moxibustion on an empty stomach or immediately after a meal.
8. Gradually Increase Stimulation
For those who are new to moxibustion, it is important to start with a small dose or shorter moxibustion time to ensure safety. Gradually increase the dosage and duration later on.
9. Prevent Moxibustion Fainting
Although rare, moxibustion fainting can occur, leading to dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, pale complexion, palpitations, and sweating, or even fainting. If fainting occurs, moxibustion should be stopped immediately, and the person should lie down and rest. Moxibustion on Zusanli acupoint can be performed gently for about 10 minutes to alleviate the symptoms.
10. Adjust Moxibustion Temperature
For individuals with reduced sensitivity to heat or children, it is advisable to place the index and middle fingers on both sides of the moxibustion area to sense the temperature and ensure that the moxibustion does not cause burns while still producing the desired effect.
