《异法方宜论》∶野处乳食,脏寒生满病,其法宜灸 ,故灸 者,亦从北方来。王太
仆注
∶水寒冰冽,故生病于脏寒也。火艾烧灼,谓之灸 。《玉机真脏论》∶或痹不仁,肿痛,
当是之时,可烫熨及火灸刺而去之。又曰∶筋脉相引而急病,可灸可药。《素问》言灸者不
胜数。灸法分补泻,以火补者,母吹其火,须待自灭。以火泻者,速吹其火,开其穴也。其
用火也,宜清麻油灯火,或素蜡烛火。其用艾叶也,宜五月五日采曝干,陈久者良。入臼捣
细,筛去尘屑,再入臼捣,取洁白为止。须令极干,经火易燃。艾团分大小,灸面、炷宜小
,灸胸腹手足,炷大如箸。若小儿周岁后,炷如雀粪则可。其壮数多寡也,灸头项止于七壮
,积至七七壮止。此外积至百壮,或五十壮,此曹氏灸法也。岂必如扁鹊三五百壮以及成千
壮哉。其取穴也,坐点穴则坐灸,卧点穴则卧灸,立点穴则立灸,须四体正直为要。如稍有
倾侧,徒伤好肉耳。其灸后调摄也,不可饮茶,恐解火气。不可啖饭,恐滞经气。须少停一
二时,入室静卧,平心定气,切忌色欲浓味,大怒大劳,大饥大饱,恐生痰涎,阻滞病气,
因灸而反致害者此也。是亦灸法之所预防者尔。
一、灸尺泽。尺泽在肘中约纹上,动脉中,屈肘肘横纹筋骨罅陷中。灸七壮,治小儿慢
惊风。(《按摩经》)
一、灸长强。长强督脉之别络,脊 骨端,计三分,伏地取之。足少阴少阳之会。灸三
十壮,治小儿癫痫 瘕。(《按摩经》)
一、灸神庭。神庭在直鼻上,入发际五分,足太阳督脉之会。灸七壮,治小儿癫痫惊风
。(《按摩经》)
一、灸少商。少商在大指甲角韭叶许,灸七壮,治五痫。(周于蕃)
一、灸十一椎下两旁,相去各一寸五分。灸七壮,治小儿胁满,四肢不收, 癖积聚,
腹痛不嗜食,并治 疟寒热黄胆等证。(《按摩经》)
一、灸尾闾骨上三寸陷中,治小儿疳瘦,诸方不瘥者。
宜在三伏日内,用杨叶煎沸汤浴之。正午时灸,灸后帛拭,见有疳虫随汗即出。(《针
一、灸章门。在大横外,直季胁肋端, 脐上二寸,两旁六寸,侧卧,屈上足伸下足举
之。又云∶肘尖尽处是穴。灸七壮,治小儿身瘦腹胀,四肢懈惰,肩臂不举。(《大成》)
一、灸中庭。中庭在膻中下一寸六分陷中。灸三壮,治小儿吐奶。(《大成》)
一、灸龟尾。(穴注上。)灸一壮,治脱肛泻血,秋深不效者。(《大成》)
一、灸脐中三壮。《千金方》随病者年岁若干,灸若干壮。亦治脱肛。(《大成》)
一、灸百会。百会在顶中央旋毛中,可容豆,直两耳尖。灸七壮,治中风角弓反张,涎
一、灸鬼哭穴。以病者两手大指并缚之,用艾炷于两甲角,并甲后肉骑缝四处火灸,则
病者哀告我自去为效。是治鬼魅狐惑者。(《大成》)
一、灸足两大指内,去甲一韭叶许,治卒死暴绝鬼魇者。(《大成》)
一、灸十四椎下,两旁各开三寸,是为精宫穴。灸七壮,专治梦遗。 (《大成》)
一、灸鬼眼穴。令病者举手向上,略转后些,则腰上有两陷可见是也。以墨点记,于六
月癸亥夜亥时灸,勿令人知。专治痨虫,或四花、膏盲、肺俞亦可。(《大成》)
一、灸十三椎下,各开三寸半,治痞块,多灸左边,如左右俱有,左右俱灸。(《大成
一、灸足第二指歧叉处,五七壮。治有痞块者,左患灸右,右患灸左,灸后,即是夕腹
一、灸肘尖,治瘰 。左患灸右,右患灸左。(《大成》)
一、灸乳后三寸,或两大拇指头。男左女右。治尸疰客忤中恶等症。(《大成》)
一、灸左右手面中指节宛宛中,七壮。治赘疣诸痣。(《大成》)
一、灸两手大指缝,或足二指上一寸半,治肿满。(《大成》)
一、灸治偏坠者,用HT 心一条,量病者口两角为准,折为三段如△字样,以一角安脐
,两角安脐下两旁,尖尽处是穴。左患灸右,右患灸左,左右俱患,左右俱灸,艾炷如粟米
一、灸足大指次指中节横纹当中处,四十壮。治疝痛,心痛,小腹急痛。(《大成》)
按∶病宜灸者甚多,就目前常用者略举一二。然其中有宜灸亦有禁灸者。(《针灸大成
书不可不读也。第古人灸法,用艾置肤上,以火燃之,恰受炮烙之伤,病者见之皆惧,不如
用生姜切片,以艾燃温,置穴上,一经烙痛,即将姜片艾火撤去,庶免痛苦,较古法为尤精
。是说亦本之先贤,今时皆遵之。(惕厉子)
*Suwen: Yi Fa Fang Yi Lun* (Treatise on Different Methods and Appropriate Therapies According to Regions) records: Those living in the wild, whose diet consists mainly of milk products, are prone to coldness in the internal organs leading to distension and fullness syndromes. The appropriate treatment for such conditions is moxibustion; thus, moxibustion also originated from the North. Wang Bing (Wang Taipu) annotated: Because water freezes and ice is biting cold, diseases arise from coldness in the internal organs. Burning mugwort with fire on the skin is called moxibustion. *Suwen: Yu Ji Zhen Zang Lun* (Treatise on the True Viscera from the Jade Machine) records: If there is Bi syndrome causing numbness, swelling, and pain, at this time, one can use hot compresses, fire moxibustion, and acupuncture to eliminate the pathogen. It further states: If tendons and vessels are pulled and become acute and painful, moxibustion and herbal medicine can be used. There are countless mentions of moxibustion in *Suwen*.
Moxibustion methods are divided into tonification (Bu) and sedation (Xie). For tonification using fire, do not blow on the fire; let it extinguish naturally. For sedation using fire, blow quickly on the fire and open the acupoint. When using fire, it is suitable to use wicks soaked in pure hemp seed oil or plain candle wax flames. Regarding the use of mugwort leaves, it is best to harvest and dry them on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month; aged mugwort is superior. Place the mugwort in a mortar, pound it finely, sieve out dust and debris, then pound again until only white fluff remains. It must be extremely dry so that it ignites easily upon contact with fire. Moxa balls vary in size: small moxa cones are used for the head and face, while larger ones, the size of chopsticks, are used for the chest, abdomen, hands, and feet. For children over one year old, moxa cones the size of sparrow droppings are sufficient. As for the number of moxa cones (Zhuang), moxibustion on the head and neck should stop at seven cones, accumulating up to 49 cones (7x7). Accumulating up to 100 or 50 cones is the method of Cao Shi. Why must it be like Bian Que, who applied hundreds or even thousands of cones?
When selecting acupoints, if points are marked while sitting, moxibustion should be performed while sitting; if marked while lying down, perform it while lying down; if marked while standing, perform it while standing. Keeping the four limbs upright is essential. Any slight tilting will merely damage healthy flesh. Post-moxibustion care: Do not drink tea, as it may dissipate the heat energy; do not eat rice immediately, as it may obstruct the flow of Qi in the meridians. Rest quietly indoors for one or two hours, calm the mind and regulate the breath. Strictly avoid sexual activity, rich flavors, extreme anger, excessive labor, extreme hunger, or overeating, lest phlegm-fluids be generated and disease Qi be blocked, causing harm due to moxibustion. These are precautions necessary in moxibustion therapy.
1. Moxibustion at Chize (LU-5). Chize is located in the depression between the tendon and bone at the transverse cubital crease, where the artery pulses. Flex the elbow to locate it. Apply seven cones. Treats slow convulsive wind in children. (*Anmo Jing*)
2. Moxibustion at Changqiang (GV-1). Changqiang is the divergent vessel of the Du Meridian, located at the end of the vertebral column, three fen away. Locate it while the patient is prostrate. It is the meeting point of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. Apply thirty cones. Treats epilepsy and abdominal masses in children. (*Anmo Jing*)
3. Moxibustion at Shenting (GV-24). Shenting is located five fen inside the hairline, directly above the nose. It is the meeting point of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian and Du Meridian. Apply seven cones. Treats epilepsy and convulsive wind in children. (*Anmo Jing*)
4. Moxibustion at Shaoshang (LU-11). Shaoshang is located at the corner of the thumbnail, about the width of a leek leaf. Apply seven cones. Treats the five types of epilepsy. (Zhou Yufan)
5. Moxibustion at both sides of the lower border of the eleventh thoracic vertebra, each one inch five fen apart. Apply seven cones. Treats hypochondriac fullness, inability to control the four limbs, accumulations and masses, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite in children. Also treats malaria, chills and fever, and jaundice. (*Anmo Jing*)
6. Moxibustion in the depression three cun above the coccyx (Wei Lian Gu). Treats pediatric malnutrition (Gan syndrome) and emaciation when other prescriptions fail. It is advisable to bathe the child in boiling water infused with poplar leaves during the "Sanfu" days (the hottest period of summer). Perform moxibustion at noon. Wipe the area with silk after moxibustion; if parasite worms appear with the sweat, it indicates efficacy. (*Zhen Jiu Da Cheng*, text implies missing citation context)
7. Moxibustion at Zhangmen (LR-13). Located lateral to Dahan (SP-15), directly at the end of the costal margin, two cun above the umbilicus, six cun lateral to the midline. The patient lies on their side, flexing the upper leg and extending the lower leg. Alternatively, some say the tip of the elbow is the location. Apply seven cones. Treats emaciation, abdominal distension, limb flaccidity, and inability to raise shoulders and arms in children. (*Zhen Jiu Da Cheng*)
8. Moxibustion at Zhongting (CV-11). Located in the depression one cun six fen below Danzhong (CV-17). Apply three cones. Treats infant regurgitation/vomiting milk. (*Zhen Jiu Da Cheng*)
9. Moxibustion at Guiwei (EX-B7). (See acupoint note above.) Apply one cone. Treats rectal prolapse and bloody stool, especially if late autumn moxibustion was ineffective. (*Zhen Jiu Da Cheng*)
10. Moxibustion at Qizhong (CV-8), three cones. According to *Qianjin Fang*, the number of cones corresponds to the patient's age. Also treats rectal prolapse. (*Zhen Jiu Da Cheng*)
11. Moxibustion at Baihui (GV-20). Located in the center of the vertex, within the whorl of hair, capable of holding a bean, directly opposite the line connecting the tips of both ears. Apply seven cones. Treats stroke-induced opisthotonos and salivation... [Text cuts off]
12. Moxibustion at the Guiku Acupoint. Bind the patient's two thumbs together. Apply moxa cones to the four sites at the corners of the thumbnails and the fleshy junction behind them. The patient will reportedly plead to leave, which indicates efficacy. This treats disorders attributed to demonic influence or Huo-Huo syndrome. (*Zhen Jiu Da Cheng*)
13. Moxibustion on the medial side of the big toes of both feet, about the width of a leek leaf from the nail. Treats sudden death, abrupt collapse, and sleep paralysis ("ghost pressing"). (*Zhen Jiu Da Cheng*)
14. Moxibustion at the Jinggong Acupoint, located three cun lateral to the lower border of the fourteenth thoracic vertebra. Apply seven cones. Specifically treats nocturnal emission. (*Zhen Jiu Da Cheng*)
15. Moxibustion at the Guiyan Acupoint. Ask the patient to raise their arms upward and turn slightly backward; two depressions will appear on the waist. Mark them with ink. Perform moxibustion at the Hai hour (9 PM–11 PM) on the Guihai night in the sixth lunar month, without others knowing. Specifically treats tuberculosis parasites (Lao Chong). Alternatively, Sihua, Gaohuang, or Feishu acupoints may be used. (*Zhen Jiu Da Cheng*)
16. Moxibustion at three and a half cun lateral to the lower border of the thirteenth thoracic vertebra. Treats epigastric masses (Pi Kuai). Moxa the left side more frequently; if present on both sides, treat both. (*Zhen Jiu Da Cheng*)
17. Moxibustion at the bifurcation of the second toe of the foot, five to seven cones. Treats patients with masses. Treat the contralateral side: left lesion on right, right lesion on left. After moxibustion, the abdominal... [Text cuts off]
18. Moxibustion at the Zhoujian (Elbow Tip) acupoint. Treats scrofula (Luo Li). Treat the contralateral side: left lesion on right, right lesion on left. (*Zhen Jiu Da Cheng*)
19. Moxibustion three cun behind the nipple, or on the big toes. Men: left side; Women: right side. Treats corpse transmission (Shi Zhu), adverse influences (Ke Wu), and evil invasion (Zhong E). (*Zhen Jiu Da Cheng*)
20. Moxibustion in the depression at the middle joint of the dorsal aspect of the middle finger of both hands, seven cones. Treats skin tags and various nevi. (*Zhen Jiu Da Cheng*)
21. Moxibustion in the webbing between the thumbs of both hands, or one and a half cun above the second toe. Treats swelling and fullness. (*Zhen Jiu Da Cheng*)
22. For treating hydrocele (Pian Zhui), use a strand of HT Xin [likely a typo for red thread/cord], measuring the distance between the patient's mouth corners. Fold it into three segments forming a triangle shape. Place one apex on the umbilicus and the other two on both sides below the umbilicus; the tips indicate the acupoints. Treat the contralateral side: left lesion on right, right lesion on left. If bilateral, treat both. Use moxa cones the size of millet seeds... [Text cuts off]
23. Moxibustion at the midpoint of the transverse crease of the middle phalanx between the first and second toes of the foot, forty cones. Treats hernia pain, heart pain, and acute lower abdominal pain. (*Zhen Jiu Da Cheng*)
Commentary: Many diseases are suitable for moxibustion; I have briefly listed a few commonly used ones here. However, among them, some are indicated for moxibustion while others are contraindicated. (*Zhen Jiu Da Cheng*) This book must be read. Ancient moxibustion involved placing moxa directly on the skin and igniting it, causing burns akin to branding, which frightened patients. A superior modern method involves slicing fresh ginger, warming it with ignited moxa, placing it on the acupoint, and removing the ginger and moxa as soon as burning pain is felt, thereby avoiding severe suffering. This approach follows ancient sages and is widely adopted today. (Ti Li Zi)