Formulas & Needles
Precautions and Contraindications of Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Moxibustion therapy must adhere to strict operational standards and contraindications: practitioners should operate with focused attention, select points accurately, maintain even heat, and guard against fainting, burns, and fire hazards. Forbidden areas include the apex beat region, major blood vessels, joints, the face, and the lumbosacral area of pregnant women. Moxibustion is contraindicated in high fever, convulsions, extreme debility, and in yin deficiency with internal heat and a rapid pulse. This article systematically presents the precautions and contraindications for safe moxibustion practice — an essential guide for standardized operation and accident prevention.
Precautions for Moxibustion Therapy
- The practitioner should be serious, conscientious, attentive, and meticulous in performing the procedure. Before applying moxibustion, the patient should be informed of the requirements to dispel any fear or anxiety. If scarring moxibustion is required, the patient's consent must first be obtained. The moxibustion sore must be properly managed to prevent infection.
- Moxibustion should be applied according to the patient's constitution and disease pattern. Acupoint selection must be accurate, and the number of points moxibusted should not be excessive. The thermal force should be ample, and the fire intensity should be even. Reckless or indiscriminate moxibustion must be avoided.
- Moxibustion fainting (yün jiu) is a rare occurrence during moxibustion treatment. If it does occur, emergency management should be carried out in the same manner as for needle fainting.
- During the moxibustion process, care must be taken to prevent the burning mugwort from igniting clothing, bedding, and the like. Once moxibustion is completed, the moxa stick or moxa cone must be thoroughly extinguished to prevent fire. For patients who are comatose, slow to react, or have lost local sensation, care should be taken not to apply excessive moxibustion, in order to avoid burns and scalds.
Contraindications of Moxibustion Therapy
- Prohibited Conditions: Regardless of whether it is an externally contracted disease or a pattern of yin deficiency with internal heat, moxibustion is prohibited in any case where the pulse is rapid and racing. Moxibustion is also inadvisable in cases of high fever, convulsions, or extreme exhaustion with emaciation and brittle bones.
- Forbidden Areas for Moxibustion: The area of the apex beat (xuli) of the heart, areas over major blood vessels, areas where the skin is thin and muscles are sparse or where sinews and muscles gather, the lower abdomen and lumbosacral region of pregnant women, the testicles, nipples, and genital areas must not receive moxibustion. Suppurative (blistering) moxibustion should not be used on the face and head, and scarring moxibustion must not be applied to mobile joint areas.