Is moxibustion useful for lumbar disc herniation?

Lumbar disc herniation is a relatively common disease. From a clinical point of view, the effect of moxibustion treatment is very good. Usually, moxibustion on Yinmen, Chengshan, Kunlun and other acupoints can effectively dredge the muscles and bones, relieve fatigue, etc. In addition, different types of lumbar disc herniation require different moxibustion methods. For the cold and dampness obstruction type, the main moxibustion methods are Shenshu, Yaoyangguan, Dachangshu, etc.; for the blood stasis obstruction type, the main moxibustion methods are Zhibian, Huantiao, Weizhong, Chengshan and other acupoints.

1. Where to moxibustion for lumbar disc herniation

(1) Yinmen acupoint

Acupoint selection: The patient lies prone, and moxibustion is performed on the acupoint 6 inches below Chengfu on the line connecting Chengfu and Weizhong.

Efficacy: Relaxes muscles and tendons, strengthens waist and knees, and is mainly used to treat sciatica, lower limb paralysis, sequelae of polio, low back pain, thigh inflammation, etc.

(2) Chengshan Point

Acupoint location: Use force on your calf. There is an obvious muscle dividing point at the back of the calf, in the shape of a herringbone. The depression in the center is the Chengshan point.

Efficacy: Moxibustion on this acupoint can regulate qi and relieve pain, relax muscles and tendons, and is mainly used to treat calf cramps, foot fatigue, knee fatigue, low back pain, and waist and leg pain.

(3) Kunlun Point

Acupoint location: Kunlun point is located on the outside of the ankle, at the midpoint of the line connecting the apex of the outer ankle and the heel.

Efficacy: Moxibustion on this acupoint can relax muscles and tendons, calm the mind and clear away heat. It is mainly used to treat lumbar pain, heel swelling and pain, low back pain, fear of cold, headache and dizziness.

2. Different types of moxibustion therapy

(1) Cold-dampness arthralgia type

Treatment method: Select Shenshu, Yaoyangguan, Dachangshu, Guanyuanshu, Qihaishu, Huantiao, Zhibian, Yinlingquan, Weizhong, Yanglingquan, Zusanli, Chengshan, and Ashi points for moxibustion. Select 3-5 acupoints each time, use gentle moxibustion, spiral moxibustion, moxibustion through ginger or garlic moxibustion, moxibustion each point for 10-20 minutes, once a day, and each 10 times as a course of treatment.

Efficacy: dispel cold and dampness, warm the meridians and dredge the collaterals. It is mainly used to treat cold pain in the waist, heaviness and fatigue, difficulty in movement due to cold, accompanied by pain in one or both limbs, fear of cold, pale tongue, thin white fur, slow or tight pulse, etc.

(2) Blood stasis and obstruction type

Treatment method: Apply moxibustion on Ashi, Qihai, Dachangshu, Guanyuanshu, Geshu, Zhibian, Huantiao, Weizhong, Chengshan, Sanyinjiao, Houxi and Yaotong points. Select 3-5 acupoints each time, use mild moxibustion, moxibustion through ginger, moxibustion through iron and other methods. Moxibustion each point for 10 to 20 minutes, once or twice a day, once every other day, and ten times as a course of treatment.

Efficacy: Promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis, dredge meridians and relieve pain. It is mainly used to treat blood stasis and obstruction of the collaterals due to trauma, stabbing pain in the waist, inability to turn or pitch, accompanied by severe pain in one or both lower limbs in men, purple tongue with ecchymosis, and tight or astringent pulse.

(3) Kidney essence deficiency type

Treatment method: Select Guanyuan, Qihai, Mingmen, Yaoyangguan, Shenshu, Yaoshu, Dachangshu, Qihaishu, Guanyuanshu, Baqiao, Zhibian, Yanglingquan, Zusanli, and Ashi points, use mild moxibustion, scar moxibustion, ginger-separated moxibustion and other methods, select 3-5 acupoints for moxibustion each time, moxibustion each point for 10-20 minutes, once a day, ten times as a course of treatment.

Efficacy: Nourishes the kidney and waist, relaxes muscles and dredges the meridians. It is mainly used to treat waist pain and discomfort, or empty pain and lumbar pain in middle-aged and elderly people. Accompanied by weakness, heaviness and numbness in one or both lower limbs, pale red tongue, enlarged tongue, thin white tongue coating, and thin and slow pulse.