How to Detoxify During the Nine Poisonous Days?
From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, the Nine Poisonous Days are the most severe days of the year for the body's metabolism and physical depletion, and they are also the best time for physical conditioning. During these days, utilizing acupuncture and physical therapy methods can better promote the excretion of toxins from the body and help the body enter a better state.
The Nine Poisonous Days refer to the fifth, sixth, seventh, fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, twenty-fifth, twenty-sixth, and twenty-seventh days of the fifth lunar month. These nine days are collectively known as the "Nine Poisonous Days of Heaven and Earth's Interchange", and the fourteenth day of the fifth lunar month is the day of Heaven and Earth's Interchange. Altogether, these are ten days.
During the Nine Poisonous Days, moxibustion can be used to detoxify the body by eliminating cold toxins, water toxins, damp toxins, phlegm toxins, blood toxins, and stagnant toxins. Stimulating specific acupuncture points such as Dazhui, Mingmen, and Zhiyang along the Governing Vessel can invigorate the body's yang qi and eliminate cold toxins. In combination with moxibustion on Yinlingquan, Fenglong, and Sanyinjiao, it can eliminate water toxins, damp toxins, and phlegm toxins. Additionally, moxibustion on Xuehai and Weizhong can eliminate blood toxins and stagnant toxins.
1. Zusanli (ST36) Moxibustion for Detoxification: Zusanli is located 3 cun below the lateral knee and slightly lateral to the tibia. Moxibustion can be applied to this point for 10-15 minutes, and regular practice over a period of time can help eliminate dampness.
2. Fenglong (ST40) Moxibustion for Detoxification: Fenglong is located at the midpoint of the lateral aspect of the lower leg, where the muscle is prominent. Moxibustion at this point is effective for eliminating dampness and phlegm. Regular moxibustion for 15 minutes daily can strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness.
3. Jiexi (ST41) Moxibustion for Detoxification: Jiexi is located on the dorsum of the foot, at the depression of the ankle joint. This point is effective for eliminating dampness and phlegm throughout the body, particularly helpful for reducing edema in the lower limbs. Regular moxibustion for 15 minutes daily at this point, over a period of time, can effectively eliminate dampness.