At the end of July, I went to Taizhou to study, which opened the door to my acupuncture practice. I finally dared to give acupuncture to others (see details in A004 Boldness and Caution).
Another gain was a renewed understanding of moxibustion. The original intention of this study was to learn a moxibustion technique to treat my mother. She had a patch of wind-cold-damp obstruction on her thigh that caused numbness and pain, affecting her walking and sitting. After visiting many doctors, local treatments with decoctions had limited effect, acupuncture and cupping were effective but unbearably painful—truly where medicine could not reach, and acupuncture could not suffice. I thought moxibustion would be the most suitable for this condition.
Up to today, I have used about 50 moxa sticks on my mother, and my understanding of moxibustion has far exceeded that of the first stick. This article intends to talk about “moxibustion sensations” (jiu gan). These sensations are quite niche, almost no one knows that moxibustion can produce sensations, and even needle-like sensations just like acupuncture!
First, an excerpt from the teacher’s materials about moxibustion sensations:
What is Moxibustion Sensation (Jiu Gan)
Moxibustion sensation refers to the phenomena felt by oneself during moxibustion, such as heat, wind, cool, cold, numbness, distension, soreness, heaviness, pain, and other reflections of the meridian qi. The occurrence of these sensations is due to the dual physical and pharmacological action of the moxa fire, which stimulates and drives the meridian qi inside the body. The meridian qi, during its circulation, battles the pathogenic qi in the lesion, expelling the pathogenic factors, resulting in a series of moxibustion sensations. These phenomena are a real representation of the circulation of moxa fire and the existence of meridian qi and pathogenic qi. Whether or not these sensations occur directly affects the efficacy of the moxibustion treatment. This sensation is a subjective feeling; some people are more sensitive and can perceive it, while others are dull and cannot.
The strength of moxibustion sensation, in a way, represents the degree of blockage in the body’s meridians. The presence of strong moxibustion sensations indicates unobstructed meridians and rapid therapeutic effects. The absence of sensation indicates severe stagnation of pathogenic qi in the meridians, which requires clearing the meridians before moxibustion can have a better effect.
Factors Influencing the Appearance of Moxibustion Sensation
The presence and occurrence of moxibustion sensations are often influenced by various conditions such as environment, technique, pathology, duration, and individual differences.
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The intensity of stimulation and frequency of application. During moxibustion, the fire power must be balanced and sustained, reaching a certain effective amount to produce sensation and the subsequent transmission process. If the fire intensity is interrupted, the sensation already produced will weaken, retreat, and disappear. Generally, stronger stimulation, longer duration, and more repetitions make sensation transmission easier. However, sometimes mild stimulation and shorter time can also trigger sensation transmission. When sensation transmission is slow or hard to occur, even increasing the stimulus may not significantly speed up or trigger it.
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Individual constitution differences. There is a clear relationship between individual constitution and moxibustion sensation. Among normal people, moxibustion sensation varies from person to person, hence the saying “meridian-sensitive person.” Differences in individual factors are also notable. For example, with the same gender, age, and condition, using the same moxibustion method at the same time, person A may experience very good sensation transmission, while person B experiences extreme dullness or difficulty in sensation.
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Environmental influence. In a warm, quiet environment with moist skin and focused mind, moxibustion sensations are easier to occur and transmit faster. Conversely, in cold, noisy environments with dry skin and distracted thoughts while interacting with others, sensations often become dull or imperceptible and transmission slower.
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Severity of the lesion. Moxibustion sensation is related to the length and severity of the disease and history. Mild cases correspond with enhanced and more noticeable sensations; severe or chronic cases naturally experience dull and weakened sensations.
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Technique and mindset of the practitioner. The skill, seriousness, patience, or in contrast, impatience, awkwardness, carelessness, and doubtfulness of the practitioner are also important factors affecting moxibustion sensation and efficacy.
Classification of Moxibustion Sensations
The heat, wind, cool, cold, numbness, distension, soreness, heaviness, and pain sensations expressed during different stages of moxibustion can be divided into three categories:
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Moxa fire traveling along the meridians: Warmth is the first dynamic sensation during moxibustion, where the moxa fire automatically travels along the meridians, raising temperature and promoting blood and qi circulation. Because fire is dynamic and has roaming functions, the warmth sensation is also dynamic and varied, with three forms: penetrating warmth, passing warmth, and diffusing warmth. Penetrating warmth means the heat of the moxa penetrates from the surface to deep layers, with effects before and after moxibustion; passing warmth means the heat is transmitted along certain meridians or directions to distal parts, with upward-downward transmission; diffusing warmth means the heat spreads from one point to surrounding areas, like spreading from one spot to a patch. This warmth sensation feels comfortable and reduces symptoms.
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Struggle between righteous and pathogenic qi: Numbness, distension, soreness, heaviness, and pain are the second-stage static sensations, reflecting internal struggle between righteous qi and pathogenic qi. When warm moxibustion sensation appears, it stimulates qi and blood circulation inside. Upon encountering pathogenic qi in the lesion, intense struggle occurs causing tension in meridians and muscles, fluctuations in circulation, and sensory changes at or near the lesion or corresponding meridian. These sensations indicate the generation of righteous qi and the start of combating pathogenic factors.
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Expulsion of pathogenic qi: Wind, cool, and cold sensations are the third-stage dynamic sensations showing strong righteous qi expelling weakened pathogenic qi out of the body. Continuous moxa burning on specific points accelerates circulation and enhances righteous qi, pushing pathogenic factors out from lesions or meridians, which is perceived as cold winds or breezes in the area. This indicates righteous qi is actively expelling pathogens.
Common Types of Moxibustion Sensations
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Penetrating heat: During moxibustion, heat penetrates from the surface of the moxa point into the body and sometimes reaches internal organs. For example, moxibustion on Zhongwan point can make the whole stomach feel warm.
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Diffusing heat: Heat radiates from the moxibustion point outward. For example, moxibustion on Guanyuan point makes heat spread not only inward but also to the sides of the waist.
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Passing heat: Heat is transmitted along the meridians from the moxibustion point to distal areas, sometimes reaching lesions. For example, moxibustion on Baliao points transmits heat to the thigh root and even the sole of the foot.
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The moxibustion point itself is not hot or only mildly warm, but distant areas feel hot. This usually occurs along the meridians. For example, moxibustion on the shoulder points of the Small Intestine meridian can cause heat sensations on the arm and back.
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The surface feels little or mild heat, but deep tissue beneath the skin or even organs in the chest and abdomen feel very hot. For example, moxibustion on Shenshu produces a hot sensation in the kidneys and abdomen.
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Non-heat sensations occur at or away from the moxibustion site, such as soreness, numbness, distension, pain, heaviness, cold, or itching. For example, moxibustion on Sanyinjiao causes the sole to feel cold, as if wind is blowing, with cool air moving between the toes—this is expelling cold. Another example is moxibustion on Yongquan, which causes numbness in the toes.
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The heat, distension, or pain sensations generated during moxibustion penetrate deeply and transmit far, relieving symptoms wherever the sensation goes. This is common in wind-dampness and periarthritis of shoulder patients, whose pain is relieved quickly during moxibustion.
In summary, moxibustion sensations are very important. Paying close attention to them can greatly enhance the therapeutic effect of moxibustion! These types of sensations deepen sequentially during moxibustion treatment. The sixth and seventh types indicate the pure yang qi of moxa fire is transmitted along the meridians, achieving the expected therapeutic effect. Moxibustion sensations are not limited to the treated site but transmit along the meridian pathways.
Personal Reflections
A few days ago, I encountered moxibustion sensation for the first time when my senior apprentice brother and I practiced on his girlfriend. At a certain spot, she felt itching during moxibustion. I had read the related materials about moxibustion sensation before, though not in detail, but I knew such a phenomenon existed and connected the two—that itching was a moxibustion sensation! It turned out the training was worthwhile; the sensation was felt on the first try!
Recently, while performing moxibustion on my mother, the same thing happened—only one patch itched during moxibustion; it did not itch without moxibustion, and other areas did not itch either.
Later, after moxibustion on her lesion, her pain intensified.
Today it happened again—while moxibustion was applied, my mother felt a flow of water entering near Chengfu point, about the size of chopsticks, swelling unbearably.
While writing this article today, I seriously read the teacher’s materials for the first time. They are very comprehensive and answered all my current questions. I won’t presume to explain further; please read the materials yourself to locate where my cases correspond.
Finally
Everyone is welcome to share the moxibustion sensations you have experienced.