岐伯灸法疗脚转筋时发不可忍者灸脚踝上一壮内筋急灸内外筋急灸外
若要安三里莫要干患风疾人宜灸三里者五脏六脏之沟渠也常欲宣通即无风疾
如灸头上穴灸多令人失精神臂脚穴灸多令人血脉枯竭四肢细而无力既复失精神又加于细
即令人短寿
唐峡州王及郎中充西路安抚司判官乘骡入骆谷及宿有痔疾因此大作其状如胡爪贯于肠头
热如溏
灰火至驿僵仆主驿吏言此病某曾患来须灸即瘥用柳枝浓煎汤先洗痔便以艾灸其上连灸三五壮
忽觉一道热气入肠中因大转泻先血后秽一时至痛楚泻后遂失胡爪登骡而驰(本事方)
朝野佥记载毒蛇所伤用艾灸当啮处灸之引去毒瓦斯即瘥其余恶虫所螫马汗入疮用之亦效
张文仲灸妇人横产先手出诸般符药不捷灸妇人右脚小指头尖头三壮炷如小麦大下火立产
枢密孙公 生数日患脐风已不救家人乃盛以盘合将送诸江道遇老媪曰儿可活即与俱归以
艾炷脐下遂活(青箱记)
凡妇人怀孕不论月数及生产后未满百日不宜灸之若绝子灸脐下二寸三分间动脉中三壮女
子石门不灸(出千金方)
有人因灸三里而满面黑气医皆以谓肾气浮面危候也有人云肾经有湿气上蒸于心心火得湿
成烟
气形于面面属心故心肾之气常相通如坎之外体即离离之外体即坎心肾未常相离也耳属水其中
虚则有离之象目属火其中满则有坎之象抑可见矣以去湿药治之如五苓散防己黄 之类皆可用
(医余)
Qibo's discussion on moxibustion for treating foot convulsions (muscle spasms of the lower leg): When attacks occur with unbearable pain, apply one moxa cone (Zhuang) above the ankle; if the medial tendons are tense, moxa the medial side; if the lateral tendons are tense, moxa the lateral side.
To maintain health, one should frequently moxa Zusanli (ST36), and must not let it become dry or depleted. Those suffering from Wind diseases are suitable for moxing Zusanli, as it serves as the channel connecting the five zang organs and six fu organs. Keeping it constantly unobstructed prevents Wind diseases.
If too many moxa cones are applied to head acupoints, it causes loss of spirit; if too many are applied to arm and leg acupoints, it leads to exhaustion of blood vessels, making the limbs thin and weak. Combined with loss of spirit and physical emaciation, this results in a shortened lifespan.
Wang Ji, Langzhong (Imperial Physician) of Xiazhou during the Tang Dynasty, served as Judge of the Western Route Pacification Commission. While riding a mule through Luogu Valley, his chronic hemorrhoid disease flared up severely. The condition felt like a cucumber spine piercing through the intestines, and his head felt hot like burning ash. Upon reaching the post station, he collapsed stiffly. The station keeper said, "I have suffered from this illness before; it requires moxibustion to heal." He first washed the hemorrhoid area with a strong decoction of willow branches, then applied moxa directly onto it, continuing for three to five moxa cones (Zhuang). Suddenly, he felt a stream of heat enter his intestines, followed by severe diarrhea, initially discharging blood then fecal matter. Although extremely painful at the moment, after the evacuation, the sensation of the cucumber spine piercing the intestines disappeared, and he was able to mount his mule and ride away swiftly. (From *Ben Shi Fang*)
*Chaoye Qian Zai* records that for snakebite injuries, applying moxibustion to the bitten site draws out and removes toxic pathogens, leading to recovery. This method is also effective for stings from other harmful insects and wounds contaminated with horse sweat.
Zhang Wenzhong recorded a method for treating difficult labor (breech presentation with hand protrusion): After various talismans and medicines failed, he moxa the tip of the woman's right little toe for three moxa cones (Zhuang), each cone sized like a wheat grain. Immediately after the fire was applied, the baby was delivered.
Sun Gong, the Director of Military Affairs, suffered from umbilical wind (neonatal tetanus) just days after birth and was deemed incurable. His family placed him in a basin, covered it, and prepared to abandon him in the river. On the way, they met an old woman who said, "This child can live," and took him home. She applied a moxa cone below the navel, and the child survived. (From *Qing Xiang Ji*)
For pregnant women, regardless of gestational age, and for women within one hundred days postpartum, moxibustion is generally contraindicated. To induce sterility, one may moxa the pulsating point two cun and three fen below the navel for three moxa cones (Zhuang). However, women should never moxa Shimen (CV5). (From *Qian Jin Fang*)
Some individuals developed dark discoloration over their entire face after moxing Zusanli (ST36). Physicians considered this a critical sign of floating Kidney Qi manifesting on the face. Others argued that dampness in the Kidney meridian steams upward to the Heart; when Heart Fire encounters dampness, it transforms into smoke, which manifests as facial discoloration. Since the face belongs to the Heart, Heart and Kidney Qi are constantly interconnected, similar to how the outer trigram of Kan (Water) is Li (Fire), and the outer trigram of Li is Kan. They are inseparable. The ears belong to Water but appear hollow like Li; the eyes belong to Fire but appear full like Kan, illustrating this principle. Treatment involves using damp-draining formulas such as Wuling San or Fangji Huangqi Tang. (From *Yi Yu*)