Should Acupuncture Be Administered to the Front or the Back First?

Moxibustion is a common method of treating illnesses and maintaining health in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), known for its simplicity, low cost, and remarkable effectiveness. Nowadays, with people's increasing awareness of health, many choose moxibustion as a solution when they feel discomfort or want to maintain good health. It is crucial to follow the correct order during moxibustion. Let's explore whether moxibustion should be applied to the front or the back first.

1. Front or Back First in Moxibustion?

Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medical therapy that follows a specific order: the upper body is treated first, followed by the lower body; the back is treated before the abdomen; the head and torso are treated before the limbs; and the left side is treated before the right. Therefore, under normal circumstances, the back should be treated first, followed by the front. The optimal time for moxibustion is generally around 10-11 am and 2-4 pm, and each session should not exceed half an hour. Moxibustion has various benefits, including improving the flow of energy, enhancing beauty, and strengthening bones and muscles.

2. Benefits and Effects of Moxibustion

Warming and Dispelling Cold: Moxibustion warms and relieves pain in the meridians. By applying heat to stimulate the meridians and acupoints, it warms the meridians, dispels cold, and enhances the circulation of Qi and blood in the body, achieving clinical therapeutic effects. It is effective in treating diseases caused by cold-induced stagnation of Qi and blood, such as arthralgia and diarrhea.

Regulating Qi and Unblocking Meridians: The meridians distribute throughout the body, connecting the internal organs and the external muscles and bones. In a healthy body, Qi and blood flow continuously and smoothly through the meridians. However, external factors like wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire can cause stagnation of Qi and blood, leading to blockages in the meridians, resulting in symptoms like swelling, pain, and functional impairments. Moxibustion at specific acupoints can harmonize Qi and blood, unblock meridians, and balance bodily functions. Clinically, it is used to treat conditions like abscesses, frostbite, urinary retention, infertility, and sprains.

Supporting Yang and Stabilizing Collapse: For patients with severe conditions such as vomiting, diarrhea, cold extremities, and weak pulses due to collapse of Yang Qi, moxibustion with large moxa cones at acupoints like Guanyuan and Shenque can be effective. The pure yang nature of mugwort combined with the yang properties of fire can often help restore Yang Qi, reverse collapse, and rescue patients from critical conditions. Clinically, it is often used in emergencies such as stroke, acute abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and dysentery.