Insulation Moxabustion Demonstration: with Ginger for Improving Digestion by Cory Trusty
Summary
Moxabustion is a Chinese Medical technique involving burning dried Mugwort leaves, Ai Ye,
on or above acupoints or diseased areas. Moxabustion has many indications, including:
attack of cold pathogens, bi/arthritis pain, shock and trauma, chronic low energy, accelerating
wound healing, and preventing disease. Moxabustion is performed using various
techniques, one is insulation moxabustion, which involves burning cones
of Mugwort onto the chosen area, above a insulator such as ginger, garlic or salt.
The choice of insulator depends on the condition being treated. Ginger is used
to improve digestion and is usually done on Ren 8, the umbilicus. This technique
is indicated for persons with nausea, gas and bloating, chronic diarrhea, low energy,
Spleen Qi Deficiency, etc. Salt and Garlic insulation moxabustion can also be performed
for other conditions, and variations using these insulators are described at the end of the demonstration.
Contraindications:
Yin Deficiency, Heat in the Blood
Materials
dried Mugwort, AiYe, leaves
lighter or matches & candle
Ash tray
Large Fresh Hand of Ginger
Method
1. A large piece of ginger is cut into a thin sliced and holes are poked in it with a fork or
knife. The slice used in this demonstration is fairly small, a larger piece is preferred.
2. A towel is used to remove moisture from the ginger. This step is important in preventing
burning the skin with hot ginger juice.
3. 2-3 moxa cones are prepared from dried leaves. Cones
must be are smaller than the ginger slice.
4. The ginger slice is positioned above Ren 8 (navel), with the cone in the center and lit.
5. The ginger and cone are lifted into the ashtray when area starts to become hot or cone finishes burning.
6. Additional moxa cones are used, if necessary, until area is warm.
Variations
1. Insulation Moxabustion can be performed over Ren 8 with Salt. A tissue is placed over the belly button and then filled with salt.
This method is performed to treat persons with Kidney Yang Deficiency.
2. Insulation moxabustion can also be performed with slices of Elephant Garlic over painful
pimples, carbuncles or furuncles to draw out infection.
This technique is also indicated for abdominal masses phlegm, sores and tuberculosis.
Warning: hot garlic juice can cause painful blisters.
3. Insulation moxabustion can also be performed with a pound of crushed garlic
lining the entire spine. Again the garlic is dried with towel first to prevent burns.
This is method is useful for treating stubborn bi/ stubborn arthritis pain, for example Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Cones are place along the spine over the crushed garlic, and lit cones starting from the bottom of the spine.
Cones are burnt until the person can taste the garlic in their mouth.
First Aid for Blisters from hot garlic juice:
Blisters are punctured with a sterilized needle and cover with sterile bandage.
Reference
1. Moxabustion by Dr. Jian-Feng Yang, OMD. Seattle, Washington