Influencia de los Drag en la moda

11.1 COURSE WIND AND RESOLVE THE EXTERIOR,

WARM AND DISSIPATE COLD PATHOGEN

Due to the warming and fumigating properties of moxibustion, it has the function of warming and dissipating cold pathogens. Cold includes both externally contracted cold pathogen and vacuity cold of the centre burner. In Chinese medicine ‘externally contracted cold pathogen’ refers to symptoms such as an aversion to and fear of cold, cold limbs, cold pain, a preference for warmth and lying in the foetal position, caused by exposure to cold or by over consumption of raw or cold foods. Vacuity cold of the centre burner is usually caused by internal injury and enduring illness causing injury and taxation of yang qi. This is observable in symptoms such as cold limbs and lying in the foetal position, an absence of thirst, clear and thin phlegm, drool, mucus, clear and excessive urine, thin and loose stools. Moxibustion can dispel cold pathogens, return yang qi, cause cold pathogens to dissipate, and bring warmth back to the limbs. According to the viewpoint of modern medicine, the heat characteristic of moxibustion can cause vasodilation of local capillary blood vessels, lead to tissue hyperaemia and increase the speed of blood flow and metabolism, improving areas that lack blood, oxygen and nutrition. This results in the function of warming and dissipating cold pathogens. This effect can be relied upon to treat symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, which are caused by externally contracted wind-cold exterior pattern and centre burner vacuity cold.

11.2 WARM AND FREE CHANNELS AND COLLATERALS,

QUICKEN BLOOD AND EXPEL IMPEDIMENT

It is believed in Chinese medicine that qi, blood and fluids are the basic materials for human life, and that they circulate throughout the entire body. The paths that these materials follow around the body are the channels, and if these channels are blocked or inhibited the result will be limb pain or dysfunction, or irregular internal organ qi dynamics, which lead to disease. Obstruction of the

channels is often due to cold pathogens settling in the channels, inhibition of qi dynamics, or injury to the channels. This can manifest as dysfunction of limb movement, joint pain, headache, lower backache, abdominal pain and painful menstruation, as well as stroke paralysis and facial paralysis (Bell’s Palsy). When moxibustion is performed on acupoints, it has the effect of warming and freeing the channels. The viewpoint of modern medicine is that moxibustion speeds up metabolism of local tissues, speeding up pain mechanisms causing products of inflammation and discharging them out of the body. At the same time, moxibustion regulates the excitability of nerves, inhibiting over-excited nerves and exciting functionally decreased nerves. This brings about a cessation of pain and improvements in nerve palsy and limb paralysis.

11.3 REINFORCE YANG AND STEM QI DESERTION,

LIFT YANG AND RAISE PROLAPSE

Yin and Yang represent the root of human life. Yang debilitation leads to yin exuberance, and yin exuberance manifests as cold, reversal or even verging on desertion. Conditions such as enduring illness, a weak constitution or fulminant desertion (sudden loss of consciousness) of qi and blood are common. These result in insecurity of defensive yang, insecurity of the interstices and a tendency towards wind damage and common cold. In extreme cases sinking of central qi, organ prolapse or extreme yang debilitation, separation of yin and yang, with the signs and symptoms of a sombre white facial complexion, reversal cold of the limbs, copious sweating and a drop in blood pressure. The heat of moxibustion can warm, supplement and support yang qi, and treat vacuity qi desertion. From the perspective of modern medicine, moxibustion can regulate the body’s stress levels and raise tolerance, regulating various glandular functions and maintaining the organism’s physiological functionality. For these reasons, moxibustion can treat chronic diarrhoea and dysentery, seminal emissions, impotence, and vacuity qi desertion, resulting from spleen and kidney yang vacuity, as well as organ prolapse, flooding and spotting, caused by sinking of centre qi.

11.4 DISPERSE STASIS AND DISSIPATE KNOTS,

DRAW OUT TOXINS AND DRAIN HEAT

With regards to stasis and knots, Chinese medicine believes that they are caused by coagulation of cold or poor movement of qi and blood, resulting in phlegm-damp obstruction or blood stasis. This manifests as welling or flat abscesses, lumps or blood stasis. Moxibustion can free and regulate the qi dynamic, and harmonize and disinhibit construction and defence, allowing stasis and knots to naturally dissipate. For this reason, in clinical practice moxibustion is often used for the treatment of diseases involving qi and blood stagnation, such as early mammary welling abscess, scrofula and goitre. According to modern medical research, moxibustion can cause an increase in neutrocytes and phagocytic function, and a decrease in inflammatory exudation. For these reasons moxibustion is able to dissipate congealed cold, disperse swelling, disperse welling and flat abscesses, either speeding the ulceration of suppurative sores or dispelling putridity and engendering flesh in the case of qi vacuity sores that fail to close. In this way, moxibustion achieves the effects of dispersing stasis and dissipating binds, quickening blood and ceasing pain.

In Bian Que Xin Shu it says, ‘In times of health, moxibustion of Guan Yuan (RN-4), Qi Hai (RN-6), Ming Men (DU-4), and Zhong Wan (RN-12), will guarantee a hundred or more years of life.’ This quotation describes the disease prevention and health improving effects of moxibustion. Performing moxibustion when there is no disease can stimulate right qi, strengthen the ability to resist disease, restore energy and allow longevity without debilitation. Modern medical research points out that moxibustion of Zu San Li (ST-36), Bai Hui (DU-20), for example, can reduce blood coagulation and lower blood lipids and cholesterol. From this we can see why performing moxibustion in times of health can strengthen disease resistance, increase energy levels and prolong life.