Distinctions in Hours, Clever Selection of Moxibustion Timing​

Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasizes the "correspondence between heaven and humanity", meaning that the movement of Qi and blood in the human body is closely connected with the changes of natural hours. During a day, Moxibustion applied at different hours yields significantly different effects.​

Before noon, especially in the morning, the Yang Qi in the human body gradually becomes exuberant. Applying Moxibustion at this time can leverage the ascending momentum of natural Yang Qi to enhance the effects of Moxibustion in warming and tonifying Yang Qi as well as stimulating meridional Qi. For example, moxibusting points such as Zhongwan (CV12) and Zusanli (ST36) when Yang Qi is abundant in the morning allows the spleen and stomach to be nourished by Yang Qi, making their transportation and transformation functions easier to regulate, which can effectively alleviate problems like cold pain in the stomach and epigastrium, loss of appetite, etc.​

However, from 11:00 to 13:00, although it is WuShi when Yang Qi seems to be prosperous, Qi and blood actually tend to be inward. Moreover, this is the time when the Heart Meridian is in command. Excessive Moxibustion can easily cause Yang Qi to be overly hyperactive, disturbing the mind and leading to discomfort such as heat sensation and palpitations. Therefore, Moxibustion is not suitable during this period. After 23:00, the Yang Qi in the human body hides and enters a state of rest. Moxibustion at this time will break the balance of yin and yang, disrupt the hiding of Yang Qi, not only affect sleep, but also may cause problems such as internal heat and yin deficiency, so it also needs to be avoided.

Harmony with Solar Terms, Seizing Good Seasonal Opportunities​

Throughout the year, the period from the Winter Solstice to around the Summer Solstice is the golden time for Moxibustion. The Winter Solstice is the time when Yang Qi begins to generate in a year. At this time, the Yang Qi of heaven and earth gradually becomes exuberant, and the Yang Qi of the human body also begins to stir. Starting from the Winter Solstice, applying Moxibustion in accordance with the growing trend of Yang Qi can maximize the use of natural Yang Qi to warm and nourish the human body's Yang Qi, achieving a twice-the-result-with-half-the-effort effect.​

For instance, moxibusting Guanyuan (CV4) around the Winter Solstice. Guanyuan is a place where the human body's primordial Qi is stored. Moxibustion at this time can enrich primordial Qi and enhance the body's disease resistance. As the seasons change, by the Summer Solstice, Yang Qi reaches its most exuberant state in a year. After the Summer Solstice, Yang Qi gradually retreats，but the foundation of Yang Qi accumulated before still exists. Continuous Moxibustion during this period can consolidate Yang Qi and adjust the balance of yin and yang, which is particularly beneficial for people with yang deficiency constitution to improve symptoms such as fear of cold and cold limbs. For example, some patients with chronic deficiency-cold diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (cold-dampness obstruction type), who receive regular Moxibustion from the Winter Solstice to the Summer Solstice, their symptoms like joint pain and stiffness will be better relieved, which is due to taking advantage of the "East Wind" of Yang Qi in the solar terms.

Moderation in Time, Scientific Approach to Moxibustion Duration​

In addition to hours and solar terms, the duration of a single Moxibustion session is also important. Generally speaking, for health-preserving Moxibustion, each acupoint should be moxibusted for 10-15 minutes. For treating diseases, the duration can be appropriately adjusted according to the severity of the illness and physical differences, but it should not be too long. Usually, 20-30 minutes per acupoint is appropriate.​

People with weak constitutions may experience Qi consumption if Moxibustion lasts too long, possibly leading to discomfort such as dizziness and fatigue. For those with strong constitutions, appropriately extending the time can better exert the effect of Moxibustion in dispelling pathogenic factors and strengthening the body's resistance, but the degree must be well controlled. For example, at the beginning of a cold, moxibusting Dazhui (GV14) to relieve the exterior and reduce fever, 15-20 minutes can achieve the effect of inducing sweat to relieve the exterior and dispelling cold pathogens. Too long a time may instead damage body fluids.

In conclusion, there is a great deal of knowledge about traditional Chinese medicine health preservation in the timing of Moxibustion. Only by following the laws of hours, conforming to the changes of solar terms, grasping the duration of a single session, and combining with individual constitutions, can Moxibustion, this traditional therapy, accurately exert its effects of warming and unblocking the meridians, regulating Qi and blood, and strengthening the body's resistance to dispel pathogenic factors, thus safeguarding our health.​