The difference between blistering and scalding caused by moxibustion

In traditional Chinese medicine, moxibustion is a very effective treatment method, especially for chronic diseases, which can greatly improve the condition. However, you should also pay attention to the time and operation techniques when doing moxibustion to avoid hurting the skin. People also need to distinguish the difference between moxibustion blisters and burns. Most moxibustion blisters are formed due to the discharge of toxins from the body, which is a normal phenomenon, but burns must be treated in time.

Are blisters from moxibustion considered burns?

uncertain. If you get one or two blisters due to hanging moxibustion or mild moxibustion, and the moxa stick is "ten miles away" from the skin, it cannot be called a burn (because the fire does not directly burn the skin). Most of the time, blisters caused by moxibustion are due to a detoxification reaction. Large or small blisters are caused by heavy moisture, cold air, and blocked meridians. They are a manifestation of the pathogenic factors in the body being released outwards.

The difference between blisters and burns caused by moxibustion

If you get one or two blisters due to hanging moxibustion or mild moxibustion, and the moxa stick is "ten miles away" from the skin, it cannot be called a burn (because the fire does not directly burn the skin). In addition, it is difficult to distinguish whether it is a burn or moxibustion burn if blisters have already appeared. It can be understood that you don't feel it's hot at first, but later blisters appear on the moxibustion site, which you call moxibustion flowers. If you can't bear the heat and blisters appear, or if the flames burn yourself, you call it burn blisters.

How to avoid burns during moxibustion

Many people get blisters when doing moxibustion, and even get purulent infections and bleeding. It is obvious at a glance that these are serious burns. So, how to avoid burns from moxibustion?

1. Environmental ventilation: The environment should be kept ventilated to avoid excessive concentration of moxa smoke which may harm the human body. Patients with respiratory diseases, especially asthma, should use moxibustion with caution.

2. Moxibustion sites: The abdomen and lumbar sacral area of ​​pregnant women should not be moxibustioned; the facial features, genitals, and areas with large blood vessels should not be directly moxibustioned; the head, chest, and extremities should not be moxibustioned too much where the skin is thin and there are many tendons and bones.

3. Tool quality: Choose moxa of good quality. Inferior quality moxa is hard and not clumping together. It burns with great intensity and can easily cause patients to feel burning pain. It may even cause stone particles to fall off and burn the skin during fumigation. Also, use a moxibustion box. If you are afraid of being burned by falling sparks, you can flick off the ash from time to time.

4. Pay attention to the number of times: For those with strong constitution, mild condition and short course of illness, moxibustion treatment 1-2 times is sufficient; for those with poor constitution, severe condition and long course of illness, moxibustion can be applied for several months or even more than 1 year. When first starting to use moxibustion, apply it once a day; for long-term moxibustion treatment, after 3 times, change to once every 2-3 days.

5. Avoid burns: When applying moxibustion, the distance between the fire and the skin should be adjusted in time. Some patients have severe local coldness and, when first receiving moxibustion, have a strong tolerance to the moxa fire. They often unknowingly bring the moxa fire close to their skin, resulting in burning pain. In fact, the best time to moxibustion is until the skin turns red, and each time should last for 10-15 minutes.

Tips

The ancients were particularly fond of using blistering scar moxibustion to treat diseases, and they would try every means to induce blistering and suppuration to cure the disease as quickly as possible. However, for modern people, moxibustion that causes blisters is not encouraged, and many women who love beauty cannot accept it. We modern people will also try our best to avoid the appearance of moxibustion flowers when doing moxibustion. After all, the appearance of moxibustion flowers in busy life will bring some inconvenience and also damage the appearance.