treats and prevents disease by applying the stimulation of warmth and heat to the acupoints and channels of the body. • “When a disease fails to respond to herbal medicine and acupuncture, moxibustion is suggested” • It is strongly recommended that all moxa techniques be indirect to avoid burning clients. Function
-To warm channels and expel Cold
- To induce the smooth flow of Qi and Blood - To strengthen Yang from collapse - To prevent disease and keep healthy Classification of Moxa
• Moxa Cones • Direct Moxa: Scarring moxa, Nonscarring moxa • Indirect Moxa: Ginger insulation, Garlic insulation, Salt insulation
• Moxa Sticks • Mild-warm Moxa • Sparrow-pecking Moxa • Moxa with warming needle (with a foil guard at the bottom of the needle to protect the skin) DIRECT : MOXA CONES SCARRING MOXIBUSTION
• The moxa is placed on a point, ignited, and
allowed to remain on the point until it burns out completely. This may lead to localized scarring, blisters, and scarring after healing. DIRECT MOXA CONES : SCARRING MOXIBUSTION
• Apply some onion or garlic juice on the
skin, leave the cone on the skin until it is completely burned out, and repeat this procedure for 5-10 units, so the skin gets burned, blisters, festering, and scars after healing DIRECT MOXA CONES : NON-SCARRING MOXIBUSTION • Non-Scarring Moxibustion with Moxa Cones, A moxa cone is placed on a point and ignited. • When about 2/3 of it is burnt or the patient feels a burning discomfort, remove the cone and place another one. • Three to seventeen cones are continuously burnt to cause a flush in the local site, but no blister should be formed. FUNCTIONS OF INDIRECT MOXA CONES : GINGER, GARLIC, SALT INSULATION MOXA
• With Ginger: cold deficient problems, ex:
acute diarrhea, abdominal pain, joint pain. • With Garlic: Scrofula, TB, early stage of skin ulcer with boil, poisonous insect bite. • With salt: chronic abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, pain around the belly, hernia pain, prolonged dysentery. Also can restore yang from collapse, excessive sweating, cold limb, and undetectable pulse. MOXA STICKS/ MOXA WITH NEEDLE • Sparrow Pecking moxa: A cigar- like stick of moxa is lit and the end is allowed to become red hot and smoldering, this smoldering end is used to warm the treatment area, acupoint, or channel. • The moxa stick is held about 1 cm above the treatment area and moved up and down, like a sparrow pecking. • MOXA with warming needle Precautions before application of MOXA • To carry out the test, the operator asks the patient to close their eyes and describe the sensations they feel. If the client reports either no sensation or pain and marked discomfort during the test, moxibustion should not be applied. • State to the client that the sensation felt should be of a mild warmth. • Warn the client that there is a danger of a burn and notify the operator if the sensation of heat is too strong. • Monitor the heat sensation by placing two fingers in the vicinity of the acupoint being treated. • If a burn occurs, the operator should immediately immerse the affected part in cold water and institute the necessary steps depending on the extent and severity of the burn (this may include referring the patient to medical care as quickly as possible (for details, please refer to: “Management of Moxibustion and Cupping Accidents: Thermal Burns.” Contraindications for moxibustion • High fever • For pregnant women, caution is required when using moxibustion on the abdomen, lumbar or sacral region. • Acupoints and areas contraindicated for moxibustion. • Impaired skin sensation • Clients undertaking analgesic medication • Infections and open wounds • After using a liniment • Excess syndrome, and Heat syndrome • Scarring moxa should not be applied to the face and heat, or the area in the vicinity of the large blood vessels. Induced wheezing Cause
• This is due to the inhalation of fumes from a burning
moxa stick or wool. Prevention • When performing moxibustion, ensure that the room is well ventilated • Check if the patient has a history of asthma and/or adverse reaction to fumes or odors • Use smokeless moxa stick if needed Management : INDUCED WHEEZING
• Stop moxibustion and extinguish the moxa stick or cone
• Open the windows and/or door to ventilate the room or move the patient to another room without smoke • Put the patient in Fowler’s position • Loosen the patient’s clothing • Let the patient use an inhaler (if the patient has been prescribed such and carries one in his/her person) • Call 111 if dyspnea persists and/or gets serious despite of the measures undertaken Discharge of • All patients are only to be discharged by the clinical supervisor-in-charge – Patients and NOT BY THE STUDENT CLINICIAN. ACCIDENT FROM MOXA • Thermal burns may occur as a result of applying moxibustion and/or cupping. Though in other countries, a thermal burn may be Management acceptable as part of a of therapeutic procedure (i.e., moxibustion scarring moxibustion), this is avoided in New Zealand, as well accidents as, in most Western countries. Therefore, measures to prevent the occurrence of thermal burns are strictly observed. In terms of depth, there are three (3) types of burns: Management: IF BURNS * Stop the procedure (this aims to minimize further tissue damage) • Ensure that there are no embers on the skin; if there are, extinguish them or remove them immediately from the skin (e.g., putting a towel over them) • Put tap or cold water (or wet towel) over the burned area (this procedure aims to relieve pain) • Practitioner must put on disposable gloves as early as circumstances permit (this aims to ensure protection or minimization of body fluid transfer) • Wash the area with soap and water (cold or tap); then dry the area completely – by tapping the area with a clean, dry, disposable paper towel (do not rub – this will only lead to blister formation) • Burn ointment and dressing may or may not be applied depending on the location and severity of the burn • Remember that most burns will heal by themselves for as long as infection does not set in. Infection will not develop if the injured area is kept clean and dry at all times. PRACTICE : MOXA PRACTICE : MOXA STICK ST-36 (ZHUSANLI), LI-6 (PIAN LI), SJ-5 (WAIGUAN) CONTRAINDICATION, PRECAUTION What is ear acupuncture? AURICULAR PRESS NEEDLES/ EAR SEEDS • Ear acupuncture, known in the field as auricular acupuncture, is in TCM, the human ear represents a microsystem of the human body. This means that certain spots on the ear correlate to specific areas of the body. Those points can then be used to heal their corresponding body parts. • Ear acupuncture is a practice dating back over 2,500 years that uses extremely thin, thread-like needles to stimulate specific acupuncture points. • According to the theory of TCM, this increases the flow of blood or qi to different areas to facilitate healing. What could ear acupunctur e help? • Multiple studies have shown that when used as a complementary therapy, auricular acupuncture can provide significant pain relief, help with pain management, and decrease the number of prescription drugs needed––all without the serious negative side effects of pain medications. • The practice alleviates and manages many different types of pain—like chronic pain and discomfort related to pregnancy, cancer treatments, and migraines Guidelines for the use of • Pre sterilized ear press needles or auricular non-invasive devices (e.g., press magnetic balls, seeds, etc) can be needles/ear used. seeds • Remember that the ear is comprised Main only of skin and cartilage. concern for • In the cartilage, there are no blood vessels and therefore, there is no way the use of that the body can send immune cells auricular to fight off any microbes that may invade as a result of needling. Thus, press needles the ear is very prone to infection is infection which, if not treated promptly, may result in permanent ear deformity. This procedure requires: (The procedures and precautions listed below are strictly followed) • Washing hands before and after treatment • Using disinfected forceps for handling the press needle • Swabbing the area with an alcohol swab thoroughly before insertion • Ensuring the needle is held securely in place by using quality ear press needles/seeds • Warning the patient that if they experience heat, pain, swelling or discomfort around the area of insertion, to remove the ear press needles /seeds immediately. • That press needle/seeds can be left in for several days but no longer than five days and should be removed if itchy, uncomfortable or sore. • Auricular Press needles are contraindicated in purulent infected areas. Contraindications • They are not recommended for for auricular immunocompromised patients press needles (e.g., patients under immunosuppressive therapy, patients with immunodeficiency diseases, etc.) BREAK • The NADA protocol is a non-verbal approach to healing that involves the placement of up to five small, sterilized National disposable needles into specific sites on Acupuncture each ear. The recipients sit quietly in a Detoxification group setting for 30-45 minutes. Association • In addition to addiction recovery, NADA is frequently used to support smoking (NADA) cessation, weight loss, PTSD, and generalized stress and anxiety. • • Reduced cravings, • • Increased calmness, better sleep, and less agitation, Benefits • • Relief from stress and emotional trauma, from NADA • • An easier connection with counseling, include: • • A discovery of inner quiet and strength, and • • Reduction in the need for pharmaceuticals • The five points are: • (1) The Autonomic Point which calms the nervous system and helps with overall Why those 5 relaxation; points? • (2) the Shen Men or “spirit gate,” which reduces anxiety and nervousness; Sympathetic, • (3) the Kidney Point, for calming fears and Shen men, healing internal organs; Kidney, Liver, • (4) the Liver Point for detoxification, blood purification, and to quell aggression; Lung • (5) the Lung Point, which promotes aeration and helps clients let go of grief APPLICATION CONTRAINDICATION WEIGHT LOSS CONSTIPATION HEADACHE DIZZINESS ALLERGY COMMON COLD DEPRESSION DEPRESSION STRESS STRESS ANXIETY/ INSOMNIA STOP SMOKING • STOP SMOKING SHOULDER PAIN FERTILITY NEEDLING Perpendicular: this denotes a 90 degree angle to the skin surface.
Oblique: this denotes a 45 degree angle to the skin
surface.
Perpendicular-oblique: this denotes an angle of
approximately 70 degrees to the skin surface. Transverse: this denotes an insertion parallel to the skin surface, through the subcutaneous tissue, after the dermal layer has been penetrated. Transverse-oblique: this denotes an angle of approximately 20 degrees to the skin surface. Manipulation techiniques Reinforcing/ tonification Reducing/ sedation Lifting and thrusting Quick and heavy thrusting, Thrusting gently and slowly; gently and slowly lifting lifting forcefully and quick Rotating and twirling Rotating gently and slowly Rotating quick with large with small amplitude. amplitude Insertion Slow Quick Withdrawal Quick Slow Action after withdrawal Press the point to close the Shake it to enlarge the hole hole Direction of needle tip Follow the running course Against the flow of of meridian meridian Respiration Insert needle when patient Insert needle when patient breathes in. breathes out Retention of needle 20-25 mins. 20-25 mins Arrive of Qi once Arrival of Qi three times PRACTICE (LI-4 HE GU)
Acupuncture: Learn How Acupuncture Works for Weight Loss Anxiety and Stress (How a Scientifically Proven Acupuncture System is Recovering and Preserving Vision)
Acupuncture: Learn How Acupuncture Works for Weight Loss Anxiety and Stress (How a Scientifically Proven Acupuncture System is Recovering and Preserving Vision)
