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Tibetan Moxibustion |
In Tibetan Traditional Medicine, the Doctor is also a Lama, an extraordinary person with spiritual power. The moxa is to be collected and prepared by the Lama. The belief is that the Qi (Energy) of the person affects the quality and the energy of the moxa that is gathered. The Mindfulness of the Lama, then, has an affect on medicine. |
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Artemisia vulgaris sensis (common Chinese type) is gathered
in three Autumn months. Traditionally the collection is arranged at an
optimal time. It is to be collected at the first quarter of the moon, by a
neat child, at a beautiful scenic location, under the guidance of a Doctor.
It is to be picked when the plant is mature and at full potency. In a
climate that is quite warm, then, the proper time is the first month of
autumn. According to the lunar calendar, late August is the beginning of
fall, with September as the second month, and the third is October. In a
moderate climate the time would be in September and in a cold climate,
October. |
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Moxa is considered Fire therapy and to make maximum use of the warm quality it should be picked when the element of Fire is in ascendancy. So, according to the lunar calendar there is an element that is associated with each day of the week. Sunday and Tuesday are associated with the Fire element and therefore are the best days to gather. Wednesday is a Water day, so is considered not to be a good day for gathering moxa. The Water aspect of this day would counteract the Fire qualities of the moxa and it would be of lesser therapeutic quality.
The area that the moxa is picked is purified of Duk or toxins by the sprinkling of consecrated water while the Lama Doctor performs a purification visualization and mantra. This is done to remove subtle toxins in the plants that are due to the surrounding energy of the environment.
Next the moxa is picked and then pounded while slightly wet along with visualization and mantra to make it stronger and then it is dried in the shade. After drying, the moxa is rubbed to remove the stems. Then more rubbing and pounding with visualization and mantra until the moxa is very fine. The last step consists of mixing a small amount of pine wood charcoal in with the moxa wool.
Moxibustion is one of six types of external therapies found in the Gyud-Zhi (TIB: rGyud-bzhi), a classic of Tibetan Medicine referred to as the "Four Tantras" in English. Tibetans use moxibustion treatments for Internal Deficiency of Heat, digestive problems, water accumulation, stones of the kidney and gall bladder, lymphatic, neurotic and psychotic problems. This is a broader use of moxa than the Chinese medical indications. It is also used for obstructed meridians and closing an acupuncture point after blood letting.
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Locations
of the acupoints
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The locations of the acupoints are not part of an elaborate closed loop meridian system as the Chinese acupuncture points are. The Tibetan system is patterned more on Indian system.
In the Tibetan system the moxa points are not associated with points on meridians, they are just points on the body for treating with moxa. They may or may not be points for massage or needling but many correspond to Chinese acupuncture points.
The Tibetan names for these points give a different perspective, a different dimension for understanding their usage. |
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| Four Ways Moxa is Applied |
1) To cook (Tso Wa) - repeated burning of large cones of moxa on the skin. This is used for treatment of cancer and other tumors. It has very strong regulating properties to break up these stagnations.
2) To burn (Sek Pa) - the moxa is allowed to burn down to skin, then removed. This will cause blistering, but not actually burning into skin. This method is used for used for Phlegm disorders.
3) To Heat (So Wa) - indirect method with moxa rolled in mulberry bark paper. The skin is heated until red. Used for nervous disorders, Kidney Deficiency, malfunctions in the Channels and to regulate the Qi and Blood in Meridians.
4) Slowly transfer heat (Dik Pa) - The moxa, as described above, is kept moving far away from skin. Used with children and those who are weak or chronically ill, nervous disorders, Kidney weakness, and regulation of the meridians. This is a weaker treatment, not for particularly acute or life threatening illness.
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Benefits |
Regulates functions of the channels.
Eliminates pain.
Treats diseases due to Wind (rLung) or nervous disorders.
Increases the Fire of Life, and Clears the Mind.
Treats types of swelling, edema, eliminates pain in chest due to Phlegm (Cold Phlegm), cancer, and ulcers.
Regulates the harmonious functioning of the organs. |
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Contraindications |
Moxibustion is contraindicated after birth, after diarrhea, before bloodletting, and is not applied to nerves and channels that have been cut and stitched back together.
Also forbidden is hitting certain areas of the body such as the La-nay. The LA is the place where Mind and Body connect, a place of physical and mental vitality which travel around the body in cycles. The LA can be lost or stolen and can decline. The LA travels and the concentration in the body will circulate.
If the LA is struck or injured, it can cause displacement of LA and can lead to serious consequences or death. The Doctor has to find where LA is located before heroic methods are used such as cutting or moxa. If a person is already ill and the LA point is hit, the patient will die or at the least can get an infection.
There is another place called the Wang Thang (place of power). If hit, the person can have less power. If the rLung Ta (Wind Horse), the place of personal luck is hit, it will lessen the length of life. If the site of Good Spirit (KYE-LHA) is hit, it will damage physical vitality. These locations can be calculated by the Doctor. |
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*Note: This discussion was written based on my
Dechen Yonten Dzo Institute of Buddhist Medicine class notes on Tibetan Moxibustion, "Tibetan Moxibustion", from Timing and the Times,1986, Blue Poppy Press (OOP), and from Tibetan Medical Thanka Of The Four Medical Tantras, Peoples Publishing House Of Tibet, 1987. |
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