Solid Moxibustion: Traditional Method with Pressed Moxa Stick

December 1, 2023

Moxibustion with pressed moxa stick, also known as solid moxibustion, is one of the traditional moxibustion methods. This method is opposite to suspended moxibustion with moxa stick, and it refers to a moxibustion treatment where one end of the moxa stick is ignited and pressed onto acupoints through several layers of cloth or cotton paper, allowing the heat to penetrate the skin. Pressed moxibustion was the earliest application of moxa stick for moxibustion, first mentioned in "Shou Yu Shen Fang" by Zhu Quan in the Ming Dynasty: "Roll up the moxa stick with paper, separate it with paper, ignite it on the paper covering the acupoint, press it firmly, wait until the abdomen feels warm and sweats, then it will relieve." At that time, only moxa wool was used. Later, certain medicines were added to the moxa wool, which was rolled up after adding powdered compound Chinese medicines. It is called medicinal moxa stick. There are many different prescriptions for the medicines, such as "Lei Huo Shen Zhen" (Thunder Fire Magic Needle) and "Tai Yi Shen Zhen" (Grand Unity Magic Needle). In modern times, there have been developments based on this. On the one hand, there are innovations to the original method, such as the emergence of new moxa needles like Lei Huo Xin Zhen and Zhao's Lei Huo Zhen; on the other hand, there are some new moxibustion methods using pressed moxa stick, such as cloth-separated moxibustion (movement moxibustion) and moxa pen moxibustion. There has been certain expansion in terms of operational methods and application scope.

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