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Common knowledge of moxibustion

Focus on post-moxibustion rest, exercise and diet—nail these, and moxibustion works better!

Ensure post-moxibustion rest: Moxibustion, especially intensive, strongly stimulates the body, consuming much vital energy to dredge meridians and balance yin-yang. Thus, get sufficient rest to reduce energy loss and aid recovery. For modern life: minimize overwork, overtime and late nights; limit daily internet, games, TV and other entertainments; sleep 8-10 hours daily (quality sleep best restores vitality); keep sexual life moderate.

Moderate post-moxibustion exercise: "Life lies in movement"—no therapy replaces exercise. Yet, avoid excessive post-moxibustion activity; opt for gentle exercises like walking, boxing, or seated breathing, emphasizing gradual progress and consistency.

Proper post-moxibustion diet: Moxibustion boosts circulation and metabolism, often causing fatigue and increased appetite—replenish high-quality protein to restore energy. Avoid overindulging in greasy/sweet foods (fried items, seafood, barbecue, desserts), and steer clear of alcohol, tobacco, spicy/cold foods ("dietary restrictions" in TCM). Stick to light, digestible foods, eat 60-70% full per meal (or small, frequent meals), especially limiting dinner. Elderly patients with hypertension, hyperlipidemia or diabetes need stricter dietary control—managing diet safeguards health.

What to do for excessive internal heat after moxibustion?

Everyone has some reactions after moxibustion, and excessive internal heat is common, with symptoms like dry mouth, swollen gums, dizziness, sore throat, fever and constipation. The main cause is that moxibustion stimulates yang qi, temporarily disrupting the body's yin-yang balance and causing yang to rise, leading to such symptoms. Don't worry as it's normal; if excessive moxibustion causes it, control the amount to avoid worsening.

Then, to avoid excessive internal heat during moxibustion, we can mainly start from the following aspects:

Control moxibustion dosage: Adjust time and heat by personal tolerance (use distance for instruments).

Choose quality moxa cakes: Poor moxa triggers heat; good moxa prevents it.

Replenish water post-moxibustion: It speeds metabolism/circulation (may cause frequent urination)–hydrate properly.

Rest adequately during moxibustion: Adjust routine, eat lightly. Pause 1 day if heat is severe; continue if mild (it fades as the body adapts).

Use diet to reduce heat: Avoid spicy foods; eat mung bean/lotus porridge/soup (keep lotus hearts), hawthorn, yam; drink boiled/salt water. Add bitter melon, or tea with 3g winter mulberry leaves, cogongrass rhizome, ophiopogon root and licorice.

Moxibustion: Taixi, Zhaohai, Yongquan (guide water up, fire down); Sanyinjiao (regulate, nourish yin, benefit spleen/liver/kidney).