Moxa sticks for treating rhinitis

Moxibustion does have a certain relieving effect on the treatment of rhinitis, but a complete cure for rhinitis cannot be achieved by relying solely on moxa sticks. For patients with mild rhinitis, you can use moxibustion to relieve the condition. In traditional Chinese medicine, we usually rely on acupoints to treat rhinitis using moxa sticks. Usually we choose Shangxing acupoint and Hegu acupoint. These acupoints are connected to the nerves of our nose. We can achieve relief by moxibustion on these acupoints.

Moxibustion points: Shangxing, Feishu, Hegu, Guanyuan, Zusanli, Feiyang, etc. Yintang and Yingxiang are also points with obvious effects, but because they are on the face, non-professionals are advised not to use them to avoid accidents.

1. Moxibustion point for rhinitis - Shangxing point

Shangxing point is a meridian point on the Du meridian. It is located on the head of the human body, 1 inch directly above the center of the current hairline. It is an important point for treating nasal diseases. Effects and functions: Extinguish wind and clear heat, calm the mind and clear the nose, reduce turbidity and raise clearness. Main diseases treated: headache, dizziness, red and swollen eyes, tears in the wind, red and swollen face, sinusitis, nosebleed, hemorrhoids, nasal abscess, mania, epilepsy, infantile convulsions, malaria, and fever.

▲Shangxing Point

2. Moxibustion point for rhinitis - Feishu point

The Feishu point belongs to the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian and is a back acupoint of the lung. When selecting the acupoint, the patient should sit or lie prone, and first find the most prominent spinous process in the neck, that is, the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra. Touch the spinous process one by one along the downward direction until you reach the lower part of the spinous process of the third thoracic vertebra. The Feishu point is 1.5 inches to the side. The main diseases treated include: cough, asthma, vomiting blood, bone steaming, hot flashes, night sweats, and nasal congestion.

▲Feishu point

3. Moxibustion point for rhinitis - Hegu point

Hegu, also known as Hukou, belongs to the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. On the dorsum of the hand, between the first and second metacarpal bones, at the midpoint of the radial side of the second metacarpal bone. Or place the transverse line of the thumb joint of one hand on the webbed edge between the thumb and index finger of the other hand. The acupoint is under the tip of the thumb. . It is mainly used to treat fever, headache, red and swollen eyes, epistaxis, hemorrhage, sore throat, toothache, deafness, facial swelling, strabismus of the mouth and eyes, lockjaw due to stroke, fever without sweating, excessive sweating, diabetes, jaundice, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, and dystocia.

▲Hegu acupoint

4. Moxibustion point for rhinitis - Guanyuan point

Guanyuan acupoint belongs to the Ren meridian. It is located three inches below the navel and has the function of nourishing the vital energy and strengthening the foundation, as well as replenishing the lower part of the body. It can be used when there is a loss of vital energy. Guanyuan acupoint is mostly used clinically to treat urinary and reproductive system diseases.

Guanyuan point is the gathering point of the small intestine. The qi of the small intestine gathers at this point and is transferred to the skin through this point. It is the innate sea of ​​qi, and the place where you can breathe in and out to concentrate your mind for health preservation. The ancients called it the place where the yin and yang of the human body intersect; Lao Tzu called it "the most mysterious, the door to all wonders."

▲ Guanyuan acupoint

5. Moxibustion acupoint for rhinitis - Zusanli

Zusanli, which belongs to the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming, is located on the outer side of the calf, 3 inches below the calf nose. It has the effect of drying up spleen dampness and generating stomach qi. Zusanli is the main acupoint for all gastrointestinal and abdominal discomforts. It is used to treat gastrointestinal diseases, paralysis of the lower limbs, mental illness, surgical diseases, and symptoms of consumptive disease. It is commonly used in modern times to treat acute and chronic gastroenteritis, duodenal ulcer, gastric ptosis, dysentery, appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, hepatitis, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, rheumatic fever, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, nephritis, renal colic, cystitis, impotence, spermatorrhea, functional uterine bleeding, pelvic inflammatory disease, shock, insomnia, etc.

This acupoint is important for strengthening the body and maintaining health. There are sayings among the people such as "Moxibustion on Zusanli is better than eating old hens" and "If you want to have a healthy body, keep Zusanli moist".

▲ Zusanli

6. Moxibustion point for rhinitis - Feiyang point

Feiyang Point belongs to the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang and is a collateral point of the Foot-Taiyang Meridian. Located on the posterior and lateral side of the calf, seven inches directly above the midpoint of the horizontal line connecting the tip of the lateral malleolus and the Achilles tendon, at the posterior edge of the fibula; or about 1 inch obliquely below and outward from Chengshan. It is mainly used to treat headache, dizziness, epistaxis, neck pain, back and knee pain, epilepsy, hemorrhoids, athlete's foot, etc.

▲Feiyang Point

7. Moxibustion point for rhinitis - Yintang point

Yintang point is one of the acupoints in the human body. It comes from "Bian Que Shen Ying Acupuncture and Moxibustion Yulong Jing" and is an extra meridian point. This acupoint is located on the forehead, between the eyebrows. It has the effects of improving eyesight, clearing the nose, calming the mind and soothing the nerves. It is mainly used clinically to treat insomnia, headache, sinusitis and other diseases.

▲Yintang acupoint

8. Moxibustion point for rhinitis - Yingxiang point

Yingxiang point belongs to the hand yangming large intestine meridian. This acupoint is located next to the midpoint of the outer edge of the nose wing, in the nasolabial groove. It has the effect of dispersing wind-heat and clearing the nasal passages. It is mainly used to treat nasal congestion, runny nose and nosebleed, crooked mouth, biliary ascariasis and other diseases.

▲Yingxiang Point

What are the treatments and precautions for rhinitis?

First of all, it is believed that the most important pathogenic factor of allergic rhinitis is cold evil. Therefore, we should avoid catching cold and keep warm in our daily life. Eat cold foods such as crabs, fish, shrimps and cold drinks.

Secondly, try to reduce the use of antibiotics. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, antibiotics are cold products.

Moxibustion precautions

1. Keep warm during moxibustion (especially in winter), otherwise your pores will open and be invaded by cold air;

2. Do not apply moxibustion immediately after a meal, on an empty stomach, or eat immediately after a meal.

3. Do not get angry during moxibustion. If you get angry, the qi will block the meridians and the moxibustion will not work. On the contrary, it will aggravate the stagnation of qi and blood (a girl once got angry during moxibustion in our clinic, which caused a headache and chest tightness).

4. Women should not use moxibustion during menstruation. It can be used to relieve pain in case of dysmenorrhea, and it can be used to stop bleeding if the amount of bleeding is heavy or if there is functional uterine bleeding.