Warming

The warming method is used to warm the meridians and remove obstructions from them, warm and nourish yang qi, warm the middle jiao to dispel cold and restore yang from collapse, etc. It is applied for cold syndromes. In Chapter 74 of Plain Questions, it says, " Cold syndromes should be treated by the warming method, " and says again in the tenth chapter of the same book that " retain needles for cold syndromes. " In Chapter 73 of the same book it states that " if the regular meridians become tight, moxibustion is applied. " In Chapter 64 of Miraculous Pivot, it points out that " in case of coagulation, give warmth and promote the free flow of qi, " and further stated in Chapter 48 of the same book that " moxibustion is applied in case of cold in blood. "

The commonly used warming methods are as follows :

Remove cold from the meridians by warmth. Acupuncture with needle retaining or moxibustion is applied to the points along the meridian affected by the pathogenic cold.

For warming the middle jiao to dispel cold, Zhongwan ( Ren 12 ) and Zusanli ( S 36 ) are punctured with needle retaining or moxibustion.

For restoring yang from collapse, moxibustion is applied to Guaftyuan ( Ren 4 ) and Shenque ( Ren 8 ) to treat cold extremities due to the decline of yang qi.

But the warming method cannot be used for heat syndromes, and moxibustion should be carefully used for syndrome of yin deficiency.