Among gynecological issues, menstrual disorders—such as irregular periods or dysmenorrhea—are most common. Dysmenorrhea is particularly debilitating; severe cases often require pain medication. However, frequent medication use is inadvisable. Moxibustion offers an alternative treatment for menstrual pain. So, can moxibustion be performed during menstruation?
Menstrual regularity serves as a barometer of a woman's overall health.Many women today experience irregular menstruation due to various factors, but fundamentally, it stems from varying degrees of impairment in the spleen, liver, and kidneys.Many hesitate to use moxibustion during menstruation due to traditional beliefs, opting instead for medication or hot water bottle compresses when experiencing dysmenorrhea or sudden heavy flow. This is a mistake! Dysmenorrhea stems from qi stagnation and blood stasis. Moxibustion can regulate qi, activate blood circulation, resolve stasis, and alleviate pain. Not utilizing it is truly regrettable!Scant menstrual flow stems from deficiency of both qi and blood. Moxibustion during menstruation aids the body in expelling blood clots and clearing stagnation—a profoundly beneficial practice! Heavy flow arises from spleen deficiency failing to regulate blood, leading to excessive bleeding. Moxibustion applied to specific points based on symptoms can both reduce flow volume and alleviate psychological stress during menstruation—a remarkably convenient solution!Yet ancient wisdom and modern teachings often lead many women to cling to outdated beliefs, missing the optimal window for menstrual regulation—a truly heartbreaking loss!
Case Study: Menstrual Moxibustion
Condition: Heavy menstrual flow with painful periods for years. Before this cycle, experienced bloating and faint left lower abdominal discomfort. Moxibustion warmth induced menstruation.
Day 1: Heavy flow with rapid discharge, occasionally overflowing before reaching sanitary napkin. Dark red (not black) blood with occasional small clots. Used two rolls of medium-length toilet paper. Mild lower abdominal pain.
Day 3: Heavy flow, dark red color with large clots. Used two rolls of toilet paper. Abdominal pain subsided.
Day 4: Light flow, dark red color without clots. No pain. Day 5: Menstruation ceased. Abdominal pain gone. Feeling comfortable and refreshed.
How Moxibustion Treats Dysmenorrhea:
Primary Points:
Guanyuan (CV4): Located 3 cun below the navel on the midline of the abdomen. Find the point while lying supine. Position yourself on your back. Guanyuan is situated on the lower abdomen along the anterior midline. Draw a line from the navel to the top of the pubic bone. Divide this line into five equal parts. The point is located at the point two-thirds of the way down from the navel.
Qihai is located on the midline of the lower abdomen, 1.5 cun below the navel.
Sanyinjiao is on the inner side of the lower leg, 3 cun above the tip of the medial malleolus, posterior to the medial border of the tibia; locate while sitting upright with the knee bent at a right angle.
Supplementary Points: Ciliao, Zhongliao, Tianshu, Guilai, Qugu.
For treatment, the patient first lies supine. Light the moxa stick and hold it approximately 2 cm above the point, applying heat until the local skin feels warm. Then switch to a prone position and treat the Ci Liao or Zhong Liao points on the back using the same method. Perform once daily.
Primary points are generally used daily. However, 2–3 auxiliary points may be rotated daily.
Treatment typically begins several days before menstruation and continues until several days after menstruation has ceased.
Moxibustion for dysmenorrhea utilizes the distinctive aroma and thermal stimulation of mugwort to regulate bodily functions. This aims to alleviate reflexive uterine muscle spasms, relieve spasms, promote blood circulation, unblock meridians, and relieve pain. This embodies the traditional Chinese medical principle: "Where there is free flow, there is no pain; where there is pain, there is no free flow."