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Nine Sections and Interconnected Human Spirits Not Suitable for Moxibustion

Miscellaneous Taboos and Interconnections Not Suitable for Moxibustion

In spring, the pathogen is located in the left hypochondrium; in autumn, in the right hypochondrium; in summer, at the umbilicus; in winter, at the waist. Men should avoid the "Chu Day" (the last day of the lunar month), and women should avoid the "Po Day".

The Finger Mantra on Kaishen Presented by Vice Minister Hu: Starting from age one and ten, the Two Officials move in a clockwise direction. The daily position of the Human Spirit can be checked within the Jiazi cycle to find the location of Kaishen; this was established by Shennong. Whenever a person's life force circulates through the Nine Palaces and encounters the location where Kaishen resides, acupuncture and moxibustion must not be performed. Violating this taboo will inevitably lead to death or cause carbuncles and sores. One should fear fatal consequences and seek immediate medical treatment. The *Mingtang* states: "Take eight fen as one cun"; Sun Simiao said: "People vary in height, shortness, fatness, and thinness; it is appropriate to take the distance between the two transverse creases of the middle joint of the patient's middle finger as the standard."

First Month: Mao Day; Second Month: Yin Day; Third Month: Chou Day
Fourth Month: Zi Day; Fifth Month: Hai Day; Sixth Month: Xu Day
Seventh Month: You Day; Eighth Month: Shen Day; Ninth Month: Wei Day
Tenth Month: Wu Day; Eleventh Month: Si Day; Twelfth Month: Chen Day

Any practitioner who cannot understand these various taboos to seek auspiciousness and avoid misfortune, and who recklessly performs acupuncture and moxibustion, will not only fail to cure the disease but may even cause injury or death to the patient, resulting in grave harm. If encountering a patient whose life force is in a critical juncture or misfortune period, especially if the male or female has weak qi and timidity, administering treatment is extremely difficult. Would a knowledgeable and enlightened person strictly adhere to such rules? In cases of sudden, acute, and violent illnesses, where is there time to select and avoid taboos? At such times, one should not rigidly observe these so-called forbidden acupoints. When all other medical treatments fail, the *Mingtang* permits moxibustion of one to three moxa cones (zhuang). One should carefully deliberate with intent.

Baihui (DU20): One acupoint, located in the depression at the center of the head. Moxibustion: seven zhuang. Indications: heavy sensation in the brain, nasal congestion, headache, dizziness, deficiency of heart spirit, forgetfulness (losing track of past and future), mental confusion, and prolapse of the rectum in adults and children.

Shenting (DU24): One acupoint, located in the center of the hairline above the nose bridge. Moxibustion: three zhuang. Indications: singing while climbing high, walking naked, opisthotonos, and tongue protrusion in sheep epilepsy.

Shuigou (DU26 / Renzhong): One acupoint, located in the depression below the nose bridge. Moxibustion: five zhuang. Indications: excessive thirst and drinking without cessation in Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome), generalized edema due to water qi, uncontrolled laughter, epilepsy, speech lacking respect for hierarchy, and trismus with locked jaw.

Tiantu (CV22): One acupoint, located in the central depression five fen below the laryngeal prominence of the neck. Moxibustion: five zhuang. Indications: coughing and wheezing, sudden aphonia, alternating chills and fever, neck swelling, rattling sound in the throat, and chest tightness/stuffiness.

Illustration of the Correct Human Form - First

Zhigou (SJ6): Two acupoints, located three cun behind the wrist, in the depression between the two bones. Moxibustion: five zhuang. Indications: inability to sweat in febrile diseases, soreness and heaviness in shoulders and arms, acute pain in the hypochondrium and axilla, immobility of the four limbs, trismus, and sudden aphonia.

Zhiyin (BL67): Two acupoints, located on the lateral side of the little toe, in the depression approximately the width of a leek leaf away from the corner of the toenail. Moxibustion: three zhuang. Indications: chills and fever in malaria, heavy head with irritability, corneal opacity (nebula), nasal congestion, dysuria, and spermatorrhea.