Is direct moxibustion justified

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Hi John,

 

--- wrote:

> Robert Johns told us in a class at ACTCM that Hua

> Tuo's wife? (or was it someone else), who used

> moxibustion so well that she could treat virtually

> every disease. Can you verify this?... Back in those

 

> days, it was only direct moxa.

 

It was Ge Hong's wife. Her name was Bao Gu. They

practiced Daoism and medicine together. She was a

moxibustion specialist.

 

Ge Hong wrote (probably with the help of Bao Gu) Zhou

Hou Bei Ji Fang (Emergency Formulas to Keep Up Your

Sleeve). This was the first book to mention indirect

moxa. Besides direct moxa, Ge wrote about

salt-isolated, ginger-isolated, garlic-isolated

moxibustion etc. I think they lived around 300 CE (but

this is from memory).

 

> My mom had a severe car accident with a chest

> impaction about 6 years ago...

 

I am glad your mom is better! Thanks for the moxa

story.

 

> One of the Japanese practitioners in the Bay area

> says that stick moxa is " fake " . Radiant heat is

> curative only in the sense that it brings heat to

the

> skin surface. Are you getting the " essence " of the

> moxa?

 

The moxa stick was invented during the Ming dynasty

(1368-1644). Many Japanese prefer the earlier schools,

so they may be prejudiced against it.

 

The moxa stick was first used by briefly pressing it

onto the skin (with some layers of cloth or paper in

between). This is a much more intense treatment,

although if it is done correctly, you will not have

burns. It was originally given names such as

'thunder-fire miraculous needle.' It was called a

needle because it is long and thin like a needle, and

pressing it into the skin resembles needling.

 

Later, doctors started mixing powdered herbs in with

the floss in the stick. These herbs help its qi to

penetrate, and might also be added for other reasons,

such as to move qi and blood or dry damp, etc. A

specific formula could be written for a specific

patient and condition. These 'needles' were treated

with the highest respect. They were not used simply

for convenience.

 

But today it seems that some of the ideas for how a

stick should be used have been lost, and they are just

used as the easiest thing that takes the least amount

of skill.

 

> Also, I've heard that " Ai rong " burns at a high

> temperature, in infrared frequency? If so, is direct

 

> moxibustion going to create a more focused,

> intensified stimulation, due to the denseness of the

 

> thread?

 

Based on Japanese research, Mizutani Sensei says that

moxa ash (at least from good quality floss) is pure

carbon, and that burning more cones on this ash

somehow creates infrared rays, which penetrate deeply.

When infrared heat penetrates, microcirculation under

and around the point increases greatly. Direct

moxibustion has this virtue. In addition, if you make

a minor burn, Mizutani Sensei says it creates a

'histotoxin' (basically denatured protein). This

starts an immune response, greatly stimulating the

immune system.

 

Generally, indirect moxibustion will add heat, but not

infrared. And without the slight burn, you will not

get the immune response.

 

Note: I have not seen this research myself. This is

what Mizutani Sensei says.

 

> Lorraine and all, what makes " Ai rong (artemesia) "

> special? Since it's used in so many northern

> hemisphere cultures around the world for virtually

> the same thing... pain and warding off harmful

> spirits....Is this the spiritual component?

> If so, are we smudging the body and/or utilizing a

> infrared laser to bring " light " to the caves ( " xue "

> points)?

 

What makes Ai Rong so special? Someone could write a

book on this topic. Oh wait, I already did :-)

 

Yes, I recently found out the native people in my

region (Chumash, Los Angeles area) used it to keep

away spirits, to stop nightmares, and to promote lucid

dreaming. Sometimes they used it to smudge a person

instead of sage or combined with sage. They also

rolled the leaves in their fingers to make floss, and

then burned it on the skin on painful sites!

 

Incidentally, mugwort is growing very nicely now. I

have been picking some on my hikes and hanging it to

dry in my bedroom. It makes a fragrant refreshing

smell, and it does seem to make my dreams more vivid.

A few times since I have been keeping it in my bedroom

or making little pillows of the dried leaf I have had

lucid dreams, something I never had before. Try it!

 

I like your image of bringing light to the caves.

 

> Have you ever tried doing stick moxa in the dark?

> You can see some interesting things emanating from

> the moxa stick and reacting on the patient's body...

 

 

Interesting. No I haven't tried it. I will play with

it. Thanks!

 

Lorraine

 

 

Lorraine Wilcox Ph.D., L.Ac.

 

 

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