The distribution of ear points has special rules, the ear points corresponding to the head lie at the lower part of auricles; that corresponding to buttock and lower limbs lie at upper part of auricle; that corresponding to thorax, abdomen and trunk lie in  the middle part of auricle.

To be specify, the ear points corresponding to the head and the face lie at the ear lobe and antitragues the ear points corresponding to the upper limbs lie at scapha; the ear points corresponding to the trunk distribute at principal part of helix; the ear pointd corresponding to the lower limbs lie at the helix crus; the ear points corresponding .espelvic cavity lie in the triangtilar fmi the ear points corressponding to the organs of digestive tract lie around the helix crus; the ear points corresponding to the abdominal cavity lie in the cymba  conchae ;the ear points corresponding to thorasic cavity lie cavun  conchae; the ear points corresponding to nasal cavity lie in the tragus; the ear points corresponding to endocrine organs lien at the inter-tragic notch.

Overall it is like an invert fetus.

By focusing heat on acupressure points, it can treat aches and pains and is even known to relieve menstrual cramps.

Traditionally it meant burning moxa – mugwort and other herbs – directly on the skin over acupressure points. Because of pain, burning and even scarring, this method is seldom used. Sometimes the burning moxa can be placed on a piece of ginger, salt or other compound – carefully, by a skilled practitioner, so that it heats but does not burn.

Today, indirect moxibustion involves burning a moxa stick an inch or more above the skin, or combining moxibustion with acupuncture. In this method, an acupuncture needle is inserted and heated by burning moxa – thus the heat is conducted through the needle into the body.

All moxibustion involves burning mugwort (artemesia vulgaris), a small, spongy herb, compounded with other herbs, depending on requirements. Mugwort, the herbal essence of moxibustion, is fabled worldwide for warding off the evil eye and maintaining health.

Moxibustion dates back to the Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-770BC). The Chinese characters for acupuncture zhen jiu, which translated literally means “acupuncture-moxibustion.”

Since the two therapies share a similar purpose, improving the flow of energy, they were often used in pairs. However, moxibustion has its own special benefits.

“Both acupuncture and moxibustion aim to unblock the energy channels and thus stimulate the energy flow, yet moxibustion is more effective in dispelling coldness and dampness while warming the meridians. This is due to the characteristics of mugwort, the raw material of moxa,” says Cao Yinyan, the chairman of Yinyan Indirect Moxibustion Health Resort.

She used to be a plastic surgeon, but turned to the study and practice of TCM and moxibustion about 10 years ago when she found Western medicine inadequate as a holistic approach. She now operates three moxibustion health resorts and a moxibustion training school.

“The human body is just like a running machine. Dampness will rust it while coldness will freeze it,” says Cao. “Therefore, apart from adding oil to help it run again, we should also help it get rid of the unfriendly damp and cold environment. And that’s what moxibustion does.”

There are three common types of moxibustion: direct moxibustion with a moxa cone, moxa needle (acupuncture) therapy, and indirect moxibustion with a moxa stick.

In moxibustion with a moxa cone, a small, cone-shaped piece of moxa is placed on top of an acupuncture point and burned. It can be placed directly on the skin or placed on a piece of ginger, aconite herbal cake, or salt.

Moxa needle therapy, or wen zhen (warm needle), is “acupuncture-moxibustion.” Needles are inserted into acupuncture points, while the top of the needle is wrapped in moxa and ignited. The needles conduct the heat into the energy channels. Moxa is absorbed through the skin, and inhaled.

Moxibustion with a moxa stick, xuan jiu (indirect), is the most popular because there is much lower risk of pain or burning. A practitioner lights one end of a moxa stick, roughly the shape and size of a cigar, and holds it close to the area being treated for several minutes until the area turns red from the heat.

“With preparation and back work (including mugwort back massage), the moxibustion therapy will not only be effective, but also relaxing and pleasant,” says Cao.

Patients first soak their feet in hot herbal liquid medicine, which will help open the acupuncture points and stimulate the blood circulation. Then essential mugwort oil is massaged into the back of a patient lying on his or her stomach. The aromatic penetrating oil stimulates the flow of energy.

Then comes the main part – moxibustion. The moxa stick may be held one to three inches above the skin.

Many people find the moxa aroma relaxing. The moxa sticks are compounded with mugwort and different herbs for different conditions, such as deficient yang energy, excessive internal heat, or dampness.

When the heat of the burning moxa stick penetrates the acupuncture point, the area and surrounding muscle will be warm. The warm area expands while the stick is kept in the same place for about three minutes.

The freer your energy channel is, the more quickly the warm area expands. The coldness or dampness will actually come out from the acupuncture point in the process, and the practitioner can feel it. If you are seriously suffering from dampness, the emerging dampness will even moisten the burning moxa stick and change its shape from a cylinder to a cone.

Therapy takes about 90 minutes, then you eat a cup of white fungus soup. The sound of “great mercy mantra” from a tape or CD accompanies full treatment, helping you to relax physically and psychologically.

Doing indirect moxibustion therapy at home is quite simple, but always be careful burning herbs and tipping off the ash. Buy moxa sticks at TCM pharmacies for about one yuan (14 US cents) each. Light one and place it one to three inches above the specific acupuncture point for about 10 minutes.

Remember to press the point to make sure you’ve found the right point before moxibustion. If the point is tender, that’s the spot, otherwise, try again.

Only a few acupuncture points, three shown here, are frequently used by ordinary people at home.

There are two types of moxibustion: direct and indirect. Direct moxibustion is generally performed with a small, cone-shaped amount of moxa, it is placed on top of an acupuncture point and burned. Indirect moxibustion is currently the more popular form of care because there is a much lower risk of pain or burning. In indirect moxibustion, the practitioner holds it close to the area being treated for several minutes until the area turns red. Another form of indirect moxibustion uses both acupuncture needles and moxa. A needle is inserted into an acupuncture point and retained. The tip of the needle is then wrapped in moxa and ignited, generating heat to the point and the surrounding area. After the desired effect is achieved, the moxa is extinguished and the needle(s) removed.

In traditional Chinese medicine, moxibustion is used on people who have a cold or a stagnant condition. The burning of moxa is expels cold and warm meridians, which leads to smoother flow of blood and qi. In Western medicine, moxibustion has successfully been used to turn breech babies into a normal head-down position prior to childbirth. A landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that up to 75% of women suffering from breech presentations before childbirth had fetuses that rotated to the normal position after receiving moxibustion at an acupuncture point. Moxibustion is also very effective helping arthritis, muscle strains/sprains, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, and other musculoskeletal problems.

Second, the time is appropriate in 30-40 minutes, only to maintain a certain temperature and time to ensure that the provisions of the foot in order to ensure the effectiveness of the drug’s biggest play.

Third, before eating, after a meal should not be carried out within 30 minutes of foot.

Fourth, full bath drug treatment, some medicines for external use can be sparkling or local skin redness, itching.

Five foot bath drugs used outside the drug administration, large doses of some drugs are still toxic, they will generally not be imported. At the same time, adequate drug treatment after the bath, wash the affected area, drying.

VI, in the foot, foot and lower limbs due to the expansion of blood vessels, increase blood volume, the head can cause acute anemia, dizziness occur, dazzling.

Seven patients have symptoms such as bleeding, the foot is not appropriate. People with heart and frail, Paojiao feet, the time should not be too long, there is generally no more than 10 minutes.

Eight, after 30 minutes of massage have to drink water temperature (kidney and heart disease may be slightly smaller number of drinks) in order to facilitate the blood circulation, also has the role of detoxification.

     Obesity causes:

      A genetic: genetic causes of reduced energy metabolism, and eating too much.

B diet: excessive caloric intake, especially high fat diet.

C: long-term non-sports activities with less, consume less energy.

D Gender and Occupation: women than men, less activities of the occupation, so car travel less and move.

E Age: 35 years old after the occurrence of obesity increased.

The spirit of the F: vagus nerve excited to increase insulin secretion, abnormal appetite hyperthyroidism; the spirit of high tension, the sympathetic nervous excitement, loss of appetite suppression.

G metabolism: anabolic hyperthyroidism.

H endocrine factors: excessive secretion of insulin and promote the accumulation of fat synthesis.

Fire treatment of obesity: obesity based on different characteristics in different parts of the body diagnosis and giving of treatment for weight loss, weight loss partially, to maintain body through the open flame burning the body so that the Application of the human meridian acupuncture points of the film composition of essential oil into the body and clear the meridians, And then using tactics Canon (Yun Qiao Tianhe) Canon with blood circulation machine, Canon triple with weight loss, the implementation of an integrated with each other, according to the site to carry out certain key stimulus to the function of organs and meridians to ease the adjustment, thermal Qingwei, Lee wet, to help transport the spleen, and blood living, so stop in the body-fat regulation of water, wet muddy discharge, open blood, Yin Pingyang Peru. Elimination of patients with abnormal hunger, so that patients exercise self-control and a marked increase in the capacity of food, deprivation and hyperactivity it easier to achieve the requirements to achieve a “safe, natural, no pain, no side effects,” Canon is the treatment from the fire Is to proceed in order to achieve the body Body, a new high for obesity and related complications, and so on.

A cup is attached to the skin surface through the negative pressure created by a fire inside the cup. Following are the five methods: fire twinkling method, fire throwing method, alcohol firing method, cotton firing method and firing method for cup laid on treatment location.

Clamp a cotton ball soaked with95% alcohol with a forceps or nipper, ignite it and insert it into the cup, turn the ignited cotton for one circle inside the cup and immediately take it out and press the cup on the selected location. This method being simple and safe, not restricted by the body postures, is commonly applied in the clinic.

(2)Fire Throwing Method:
Throw a piece of ignited paper or an alcohol cotton ball into the cup, then rapidly put the mouth of the cup firmly against the skin on the desired position.
This method is applied to the lateral side of the body.

(3)Alcohol Firing Method:

Place one to three drops of alcohol into a cup (not much so as to prevent it from dripping out of the cup to burn the skin), distribute evenly the alcohol on the wall by turning the cup. Then the alcohol is ignited and the cup is immediately pressed on to the place to be treated.

(4)Cotton Firing Method:
Stick a piece of proper sized alcohol cotton on the lower one third of the inner wall of the cup, ignite the cotton and the cup is then placed on the selected 1ocation.

(5)Firing Method for Cup Laid on Treatment Location:
Prior to firing, place a few drops of 95% alcohol or a piece of alcohol cotton into a non-combustive and slow heat conducting container ,such as bottle cover, or small wine cup which previously laid on the treatment location, ignite the alcohol or cotton ,press the rapidly on the position.

(6)Boiling Method:
Fasten herbs in a cloth pouch, boil the herbal pouch in plain water to make into liquid of proper density ,put the bamboo jar into the liquid, boiling about 15 minutes, take out the jar form the liquid and pour out the liquid inside the jar, the mouth of the jar is firmly pressed against a cold towel, the jar is then immediately placed on the selected location on the skin surface. The herbs in this method serve to enhance the effect of dispelling wind and relieving pain, often applied for wind-damp Bi syndrome and some soft tissue disorders. The herbs used possess the properties of dispelling wind, clearing obstruction in the meridians and promoting blood circulation.

Special method of cupping:
(1)Movable Cupping
Prior to the treatment, apply lubricant oil, such as Vaseline, on the skin, the cup then is sucked to the skin in the way as explained in the previous methods. Hold the cup with the right hand and slide it around and back to the affected area until the skin becomes congested. It is suitable for treatment of a large area, such as the back, the lumbus, the buttocks, and the thigh.

(2)Successive Flash Cupping
DIn this method, apply repeatedly and swiftly the cup over the same place until the skin becomes hyperaemic.

(3)Blood-letting Puncture and Cupping!

After the disinfection of the local place, puncture it with three-edged needle to let blood or tap with plum-blossom needle, then apply cupping. It enhances blood circulation and relieves swelling and pain by removing the blood stasis.

Functions of cupping:
Warm meridians and invigorate collateral Move qi and promote blood Diminishing cold and dispel damp Reduce swelling and relieving pain
Indications:
The Cupping method is usually used for internal diseases, gynecological diseases, pediatric diseases external diseases, and trauma, etc.
It’s mainly used to treat Bi syndrome caused by wind dampness, such as pain in the low back, shoulders, neck and limbs; gastrointestinal disorders such as stomach ache, abdominal pain, vomiting, hiccup, dysentery, constipation and diarrhea; lung disease such as common cold, cough and asthma; kidney diseases such as enuresis, impotence and spermatorrhea; gynecological diseases such as irregular menstruation, dysmenorrheal, uterine bleeding and morbid leucorrhea; and external diseases, including erysipelas, neurodermatitis, psoriasis, etc.
The cupping method often is combined with bloodletting and is specially suitable to treat acute sprains accompanied by blood stasis, blood stasis syndrome, heat syndrome, excess cold syndrome, intractable Bi syndrome, and summer sunstroke, etc.

Precautions
(1)The patient should be in a comfortable position. Cups in different sizes are used according to the cupping location. Generally’, the place where the muscle is large and thick, free from hairs and bone ridges are selected.

(2)The burning flame should be strong enough to create a vacuum. Hold the cup with the rim close to the local place and cup it to the skin rapidly and deftly, otherwise the therapeutic effect will be attenuated.

(3)It is not advisable to apply cupping to the patient with skin ulcer, edema, or on a place supplied with large blood vessels, to the patient with high fever and convulsion ;or to the abdominal and sacral locations of the pregnant women.

(4)It is not suitable to apply cupping to the patient with bleeding tendency. Caution for burning or scalding the skin. If blisters appear due to scalding or long retaining of cup, no treatment is needed. Blister for the small blister or the big one, drainage of liquid with a sterile syringe, application of gentian viol,et and gauze to prevent infection are indicated.

* Mild – warm moxibustion. Apply an ignited moxa stick over the point to bring a mild warmth to the local area for five to ten minutes until the local area is red.
* ” Sparrow – pecking ” moxibustion. When this method is applied, the ignited moxa stick is rapidly pecked over the point, paying attention not to burning the skin. In addition, the ignited moxa stick may be evenly moved from left to right or in circular movement.
* Moxibustion with wanning needle. Moxibustion with warming needle is a method of acupuncture combined with moxibustion, and is used for conditions in which both the retaining of the needle and moxibustion are needed. The manipulation is as follows: After the arrival of qi and with the needle retained in the point, wrap the needle handle with a unit of moxa wool and ignite it to cause a mild heat sensation around the point. This method functions to warm the meridians and promote the free flow of qi and blood so as to treat painful joints caused by cold – damp, numbness with cold sensation and paralysis.

Moxibustion

Moxibustion

The Moxa leaf is bitter and acrid, producing warmth when used in small amounts and strong heat when used in large amounts. Moxa is Yang in nature and is therefore used mainly to restore deficient Yang conditions. Moxa opens channels, regulates Qi and blood flow in the body, expels Cold and Dampness and warms the Uterus.

Asthma, Diarrhea, Rheumatic pain, abdominal pain, vomiting, certain Gynecological disorders, any kind of pain due to cold or deficiency and deficient organ function are some of the main disorders treated with Moxa.

The Moxa plant, in Chinese called Ai Ye is a member of the Artemesia family,and flourishes throughout China and is therefore relatively cheap. The fresh leaves are picked in the Spring and dried in the sun. The dried leaves are then ground into a fine powder or moxa ‘wool.’ In ancient times and even to this day, this wool is usually kneaded by hand into ‘cones’ which are burned directly on the skin. At Compassionate Dragon Healing we are somewhat more sophisticated and use pre-formed cones attached to fireproof bases which protect you from being actually burned while conducting the heat.

Direct Moxa

The burning of Moxa directly on the skin is called Direct Moxa. The cone is placed directly on the skin at specific points and burned. Direct Moxa is divided into two types; a) the Blister-Forming Method, and b) the Non-Blister Forming Method. The Blister-Forming Method is more intense and as its name implies the cone is burned right down to the skin such that a blister is formed. Usually the cones used in this method are quite small, about the size of a grain of rice. Still it can be quite uncomfortable for the client. The Moxa wool can be mixed with powdered Cloves or Cinnamon to increase heat penetration. Garlic Oil is sometimes smeared around the site to help hold the cone in place and further stimulate the skin. As the cone burns and the client feels pain, the skin around the cone is lightly tapped to lessen the pain. Once the cone is burned right down it is removed and the area swabbed with clean water. This process is repeated several times; up to 10 cones per point, depending on the condition. A blister will appear after a few days which should be kept clean and dressed to prevent infection. After about a month the blister forms into a small scar. In ancient times, this process of blistering and scarring was considered essential to obtain good results and is still used occasionally today.

The Non-Blistering method, is similar except that the cone is removed before the skin is damaged. Heat is still felt but the cone is removed before it becomes intolerable. With the Non-Blistering method it may take more treatments to achieve the desired effect. Usually a treatment consists of 6 to 10 cones on each point.

Indirect Moxa

With Indirect Moxa something is placed between the burning Moxa and the skin. This is less painful and reduces the risk of infection. This is the method preferred by modern practitioners. Some common substances used are slices of Ginger, Garlic, Salt, Aconite, Pepper, and mud. The use of pre-formed cones favoured at Compassionate Dragon is a form of Indirect Moxa.

Moxa Sticks

The Moxa Stick or Roll was developed in the Ming Dynasty as a convenient, less time consuming and easily controlled method of applying Moxa. The Moxa wool is wrapped tightly in paper like a cigar. Sometimes the powder of other herbals is mixed in. The most common recipe is 24 grams of Moxa Wool and 6 grams each of Cinnamon, Cloves, Sichuan Pepper, Realgur, Saussurea, Angelica, Asarum, Atractylodes, Myrrh and Frankincense.

The Moxa Stick is lit at one end and held about 1 inch from the skin, the distance varying with the tolerance of the patient and the degree of stimulation required. Normally the stick is burned for up to 15 minutes or until the skin around the area is bright red. This method is used for pain due to obstruction (Arthritic type pain). The two main methods are spiraling, which is waving the stick in a circular motion over the area or point. The other method is called Sparrow Pecking in which the pecking motion of a bird is simulated.

Contraindications

Moxibustion is contraindicated with Febrile Diseases (where a fever is present), since it is unwise to add heat to an already overheated body, on the back or lower abdomen of pregnant women as heat may injure the fetus. Moxa is not to be burned in the vicinity of sensory organs such as the eyes, mouth or mucous membranes, nose or anus. Direct Moxa should not be used on the face, breast, where large blood vessels are located or on major creases such as the elbows and knees. Care must also be exercises when burning Moxa on areas of numbness or when the patient is unconscious.

cupping

Cupping is a method of treating disease that is caused by local congestion. A partial vacuum is created in a cupping jar, usually by means of heat, which is then applied directly to the skin. The underlying tissue is drawn up into the jar forming an area of blood stasis. This appears bruising to the area. In ancient times, animal horns and bamboo jars were used, principally to drain pustulating sores.

Later this method was used to treat consumptive and rheumatic diseases. Today jars are made mostly out of glass to standard sizes and specifications, although bamboo jars are still occasionally used.

Cupping is generally indicated in the treatment of Arthritic pain, abdominal pain, stomach ache, indigestion, headache, hypertension, common cold, cough, low back pain, painful menstruation, insect and poisonous snake bite.

Contraindications

Cupping should NOT be used when there is high fever, for convulsions or cramps, allergic skin conditions, or ulcerated sores.

Cupping should only be done on the soft muscle tissue and should NOT be done where the muscle layer is thin, is not level because of bony projections or angles, on the face, or on the abdomen or lower back of pregnant women.

Cupping Method

Attach a cotton ball to a stick or forceps and dip into 90% alcohol. Avoid alcohol of lesser distillation as it won’t burn hot enough to create a sufficient vacuum.

Ignite the the alcohol-soaked cotton ball and thrust into the jar. This will evacuate some of the air in the jar creating a vacuum within it.

Quickly remove the cotton ball, as you don’t want to heat the jar, and very quickly thrust the jar onto the skin. Depending on the strength of the vacuum created, the muscle tissue will be sucked up into the jar. With practice this becomes a fairly simple maneuver.

Leave the jar in place for 15 – 20 minutes and then remove. Depending on the degree of toxicity in the muscle tissue treatment will result in either only a slight reddening of the skin for slight toxicity, or a rather nasty looking bruise of high toxicity.

There are other methods of creating the vacuum, such as the ‘twinkling’ method. In this method, a small alcohol soaked piece of paper is thrown into the jar and the jar applied to the skin. This method should be used while the patient is sitting up to avoid burning the skin.

Cupping may be combined with Acupuncture. First insert the needle in the desired point and then place the jar over the needle. Make sure you use a jar large enough to accommodate the needle.

Another method is the use of a pump apparatus. The vacuum is created simply by pumping the air out from a plastic jar. Kits are available at most suppliers. This method is preferred by some as there is no danger of burning the client.

While cupping is an extremely effective treatment for colds, flu, for a wide variety of muscle strain injuries and for drawing out toxins, it does tend to leave large areas of bruising and depending on the severity of the injury can be uncomfortable for the patient.

These bruises are not dangerous and disappear in a few days.