Moxibustion

Moxibustion, also moxa moxibustion therapy or short, is the process of heating of specific points of the body. The therapy was developed in Traditional Chinese Medicine ( TCM ), but has experienced in the surrounding countries, especially in Japan, more conversions.

General

In China, moxibustion, care is taken when indicated as one of the acupuncture of equal treatment. The often shortened in western publications as acupuncture translated preamble jiǔ Zhen (Chinese针灸) comprises of the needle (针, Zhen ), the moxa (灸, jiǔ ) and means something like " needles and burning ." The western word moxibustion consists of Japanese mog (u ) sa (艾, this refers to the dried and finely grated fibers from leaves of wormwood, Artemisia princeps, Japaneseヨモギyomogi ) and the noun combustio (Latin ) burning together. The effectiveness of moxibustion is the subject of scientific research since the early 20th century.

When moxibustion fade small amounts of dried, fine fibers mugwort ( moxa ) on or through specific therapy points. The traditional Chinese teachings, according to the heat acts on the flow of Qi in the underlying conductive lines ( meridians ). In addition to these mainly used for moxibustion points, there are other issues that are the acupuncture reserved. The mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris, in East Asia it uses several variants) applies in East and West since ancient times as a medicinal and spice plant. The collected in the spring leaves are dried, cleaned, crushed and processed to a fine, lightweight cotton. Important for the uniform smoldering is a uniform consistency of the fibers.

Already in the 16th century Portuguese Jesuit report from Japan that you can treat diseases with " fire buttons " ( botões de fogo ) there. Commonly known Moxa in Europe in the second half of the 17th century by a book of the Batavian pastor Hermann Buschoff. Engelbert Kaempfer published in his work Amoenitates Exoticae ( 1712) an essay with a Japanese mirror of Moxibustionspunkte (灸 所 鉴kyusho kagami ), which lists 60 treatment points. The particularly in Central Europe, much discussed in the 17th century therapy was temporarily less attention in the late 18th century.

Forms of application

Treatment with Moxakegeln

In the indirect firing the therapist puts ginger slices to the therapy in question and inflamed points on these small cones of moxa, which fade slowly. As soon as the patient feels a sensation of heat, the cone is pushed to the next point therapy. Each dot is repeatedly heated until the skin is significantly red. In this " indirect moxibustion " has the Moxa no contact with the skin. Today, the retailer also sells finished, glued on paper disc Kegelchen.

In China and Japan continued and it is partly still today the cone directly to the skin ( "direct moxibustion "). The resulting blisters as well as small infections are intended and designed to stimulate the immune system of the body.

Moxa-cigar

The therapist lights a moxa cigar ( in thin paper rolled bars of moxa ) and approaches the glowing tip of the therapy point to about half a centimeter. If the patient feels a strong sensation of heat, it removes the tip short. The procedure is repeated until the skin at the treatment point is distinctly red.

Moxa needles

This is an invention of the Japanese therapists Akabane Kobei / Kobe (1895-1983) from the twenties of the last century. With special steel needles, where the smoldering moxa is fixed, the therapist directs the heat concentrated in the therapeutic point in question.

Moxa Plaster

These are patches, which adhesive side is coated with medicinal herbs. These generate a reaction heat, and are glued to the treatment points in question.

Effect

The moxa contains, among other things, essential oils, including cineole and thuja oil, as well as choline, resins and tannins. In traditional Chinese medicine Moxa stimulates the river of qi and worked against so-called "cold" conditions. Dr. Hara Shimetaro who rejected the traditional meridian system had a number of effects in the direct moxibustion after ( increased white blood cell count, rapid coagulation of the blood, increase of calcium, higher capacity in the production of antibodies, etc. ). An established by western users theory is that the nerve endings were stimulated in the skin by the heat, which the pituitary gland and the adrenal glands could stimulate to distribute hormones.

Indications and contraindications

The main areas of application of moxa therapy from the perspective of its proponents weakness due to chronic diseases and respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis and asthma. Moxa should not be used on the face at the top or near mucous membranes. Also fever, acute inflammation, during menstruation, insomnia, this technique should not be used. In pregnancy the moxibustion of Zhiyin - point is used for breech presentation, to cause the rotation of the child in cephalic presentation.

In China and many surrounding countries, the moxa is applied not only for healing but also for the prevention of diseases. So the saying goes that there are no long journey to be undertaken without first stimulated the Qi by Moxa.

Risks

As a result of moxibustionsbedingten skin burns, scarring often, which is why some users put a piece of ginger root preventive or garlic on the skin under the moxa. Such scars can be confused in children with the consequences of abuse, such as a burning cigarette.

Although the application of such Moxibustionstechniken of children is probably worth only rarely as child abuse, it still raises serious moral and legal problems. Any physical injury carries the risk of unwanted complications (eg, infection of wounds) with potentially dangerous consequences. Scars can potentially act for life cosmetically disfiguring. Only with informed consent of the child (or the VAT. Representative) and medically professionally carry out such an intervention is not a criminal assault. Since the effectiveness of moxibustion has not yet been scientifically proven, a medical professional execution prevailing opinion ( in Germany ) is impossible. Whether parents who can perform surgery on her child to be their parental responsibility so just, so is at least doubtful.

During combustion, substances and dust or fine dust that can be inhaled during treatment arise. Model calculations show that the resulting in the moxibustion smoke exposure is comparable to that of passive smoking in restaurants and nightclubs.

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