Acupuncture

Although not suitable for everyone and in every case, acupuncture has been known to manage various conditions. Points selected for acupuncture can be located at the location of where symptoms manifest. Since channels traverse the body and extend to distal regions, it is also common for points located distally to be selected.

The stomach channel, for example, starts on the face and ends at the feet. So points on the legs and feet might be selected for a symptom located in the torso region. Added to this, points on a completely unrelated channel altogether might be selected. Additionally, organ channel origin, pathway to their proximity to other meridians can be assessed since one could affect another. So approaches to selecting points may differ from one person to another.

Other ways acupuncture points can be stimulated are through moxibustion, cupping, electrical stimulation to manual pressure like Tuina, which is a form of therapeutic massage that originated from China. Aside from electrical stimulation and possibly moxibustion, the other additional alternative methods listed can be separate treatments by themselves. Some of them will be explained below.

Moxibustion

Moxibustion, or moxa, involves the burning of moxa wool made from a dried herb, Artemisia vulgaris or wormwood. The term moxibustion is derived from the name of this plant which is most frequently used as Artemesia Moxa or A. Mogusa in Japanese.

Now used in many Asian countries and introduced to the west, moxa is often rolled into a stick, resembling a cigar or cigarette, burnt and placed over and around acupoints. This is commonly called indirect moxa. Premade stick-on mini-moxa are also available where the moxa is a few millimeters above the skin.

Another method of using moxa is by placing moxa wool directly onto the skin, monitored and removed once it is burnt half way. This creates a warming effect to unblock channels by moving qi and blood. It can also simply be used to warm the body.

Moxa on Stomach 36, called Leg Three Miles, for about 5 to 15 minutes has traditionally been used to boost the immune system and is a classic example of how moxa has been used. Another great location to do moxa on is Gallbladder 39, the influential point of marrow and where three Yang foot channels (stomach, urinary bladder, gallbladder) cross. It has been used for internal wind obstruction cases for those who are weak and deficient. Internal wind obstruction in TCM, or EAM, corelates to the sudden physical and cognitive symptoms of a Western medical stroke diagnosis. These are just a couple of examples of where moxa is used.

However, when using moxa, smoke is released. Some are sensitive to the borneol oil in the plan. The borneol from the plant may cause an allergic reaction too so a well ventilated space is always needed and should be avoided if you have a sensitivity to the smell of smoke and borneol or have respiratory problems. Added to this, there are some cases when moxa should be avoided until a later time. In general, when cold is clearly present, moxa would be beneficial.

Electroacupuncture

Electroacupuncture is when electrical wires are clipped to acupuncture needles to promote a stronger flow of qi between two points to move phlegm, qi or blood. If you have an implanted electrical device, electroacupuncture near or around the device is avoided. It should also be avoided in those who are pregnant.

Cupping

Cupping also stimulates acupoints when the skin is lifted and suctioned into a vessel like a cup. Cups used are normally made out of glass or plastic. More recently, international athletes were seen with these cup marks on their body but it can benefit anyone in general. So when should cupping be used?

Cupping therapy can be used in a variety of cases. As we know, it's good for various types of pain like neck pain, back pain, muscle stiffness and so on. Cup suctions can lift stagnations hidden in muscles. It can also help manage some respiratory issues and coughs by opening blocked points on channels located on the upper back. Cupping can also be used after being under the sun, being out in the wind, cold or rain.

Cupping the back shu-transporting points is also common but it is important to avoid cupping over unhealed skin, on those who are pregnant, weak or feable to those with some types of cancers. There are many types of cupping but the most common type involves cupping over healthy skin that is lightly oiled to prevent blistering.

Cups can also be slided over the skin and can mimic gua sha, or scraping, which is also similar in that a light liniment or oil is applied onto the skin before gently scraping to release the skin's exterior. Like cupping, if there's an external pathogenic attack, the skin will have discoloration. Depending on which element has been trapped under the skin, the colors could be light pink, red to purple. This color normally takes 2 to 3 days to disappear but we often say to give it about 7 days. Covering the cupped area is also recommended to avoid just in case the elements could re-enter pores that might still be opened.

Light Therapy

You might have seen a lamp placed over someone getting acupuncture. They might be placed over the abdomen or feet to warm the body when extremeties get cold. It is also used because it is common for the body to become cooler during acupuncture and far infrared heat lamps or TDP lamps can help warm the body by way of channels. When heat comes into contact with the skin, the local area is warmed and this warmthed can sometimes travel. In most cases it will probably stay in the local area and the light's warmth can possibly attract blood flow to the area.

We can look to three channels that influence blood in TCM. They are the heart, liver and spleen. The liver stores blood, the heart governs or guides blood, while the spleen, based on the qi pathway, plays a big role in blood formation from post heaven qi. When extremities are cold, this is interpreted to mean that liver blood is blocked and can't spread, or we refer to this as liver qi stagnation. This is when far infrared light therapy could help to promote the flow of qi, phlegm and blood through warmth.

This can also apply in the case when the spleen is cold and possibly diagnosed as damp cold or dampness due to cold. The coldness and dampness slows the qi pathway flow. In this case, about 5 to 10 minutes and up to 15 minutes of heat therapy coupled with acupuncture can reintroduce warmth to the spleen channel.

These are a couple of examples to explain how light therapy could help warm the body through channels that affect the blood flow in the body. And definitely communicate with your practitioner about any condition(s) you might have, like diabetic neuropathy, which will affect the level of heat you can feel or not feel.

References:

Anastasi, J. K., & Dawes, N. C. (2022). The case for moxibustion for painful syndromes: History, principles and rationale. Current Research in Complementary Alternative Medicine, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.29011/2577-2201.100053

{author_string}. (n.d.). About acupuncture: {title: Acupunture Today. Acupuncture Today. https://acupuncturetoday.com/about-acupuncture/electroacupuncture

Deadman, P., Al-Khafaji, M., & Baker, K. (2003). A manual of acupuncture. Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic.

Evidence Based Acupuncture. (2024, June 8). Evidence based acupuncture. https://www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org/

Furhad, S., Bokhari., A., & Sina, R. E. (2023, October 30). Cupping therapy. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538253/

Rodrigues, J. M., Ventura, C., Abreu, M., Santos, C., Monte, J., Machado, J. P., & Santos, R. V. (2023). Electro-acupuncture effects measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging—A systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Healthcare, 12(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12010002

Wang, Y., Sui, B., Zhang, Y., Fang, L., Xie, Y., Fang, Y., & Wang, R. (2025). Effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the immune function of patients with malignant tumors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Immunology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1583522

Disclaimer: Information on this page, and all other associated links to this page, is not intended to make claims that acupuncture, herbal supplements or recipes can cure, prevent or treat any health conditions but is for educational purposes only.

Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine

Therapies

	Therapies Acupuncture Although not suitable for everyone and in every case, acupuncture has been known to manage various conditions. Points selected for acupuncture can be located at the location of where symptoms manifest. Since channels traverse the body and extend to distal regions, it is also common for points located distally to be selected. The stomach channel, for example, starts on the face and ends at the feet. So points on the legs and feet might be selected for a symptom located in the torso region. Added to this, points on a completely unrelated channel altogether might be selected. Additionally, organ channel origin, pathway to their proximity to other meridians can be assessed since one could affect another. So approaches to selecting points may differ from one person to another. Other ways acupuncture points can be stimulated are through moxibustion, cupping, electrical stimulation to manual pressure like Tuina, which is a form of therapeutic massage that originated from China. Aside from electrical stimulation and possibly moxibustion, the other additional alternative methods listed can be separate treatments by themselves. Some of them will be explained below. Moxibustion Moxibustion, or moxa, involves the burning of moxa wool made from a dried herb, Artemisia vulgaris or wormwood. The term moxibustion is derived from the name of this plant which is most frequently used as Artemesia Moxa or A. Mogusa in Japanese. Now used in many Asian countries and introduced to the west, moxa is often rolled into a stick, resembling a cigar or cigarette, burnt and placed over and around acupoints. This is commonly called indirect moxa. Premade stick-on mini-moxa are also available where the moxa is a few millimeters above the skin. Another method of using moxa is by placing moxa wool directly onto the skin, monitored and removed once it is burnt half way. This creates a warming effect to unblock channels by moving qi and blood. It can also simply be used to warm the body. Moxa on Stomach 36, called Leg Three Miles, for about 5 to 15 minutes has traditionally been used to boost the immune system and is a classic example of how moxa has been used. Another great location to do moxa on is Gallbladder 39, the influential point of marrow and where three Yang foot channels (stomach, urinary bladder, gallbladder) cross. It has been used for internal wind obstruction cases for those who are weak and deficient. Internal wind obstruction in TCM, or EAM, corelates to the sudden physical and cognitive symptoms of a Western medical stroke diagnosis. These are just a couple of examples of where moxa is used. However, when using moxa, smoke is released. Some are sensitive to the borneol oil in the plan. The borneol from the plant may cause an allergic reaction too so a well ventilated space is always needed and should be avoided if you have a sensitivity to the smell of smoke and borneol or have respiratory problems. Added to this, there are some cases when moxa should be avoided until a later time. In general, when cold is clearly present, moxa would be beneficial. Electroacupuncture Electroacupuncture is when electrical wires are clipped to acupuncture needles to promote a stronger flow of qi between two points to move phlegm, qi or blood. If you have an implanted electrical device, electroacupuncture near or around the device is avoided. It should also be avoided in those who are pregnant. Cupping Cupping also stimulates acupoints when the skin is lifted and suctioned into a vessel like a cup. Cups used are normally made out of glass or plastic. More recently, international athletes were seen with these cup marks on their body but it can benefit anyone in general. So when should cupping be used? Cupping therapy can be used in a variety of cases. As we know, it's good for various types of pain like neck pain, back pain, muscle stiffness and so on. Cup suctions can lift stagnations hidden in muscles. It can also help manage some respiratory issues and coughs by opening blocked points on channels located on the upper back. Cupping can also be used after being under the sun, being out in the wind, cold or rain. Cupping the back shu-transporting points is also common but it is important to avoid cupping over unhealed skin, on those who are pregnant, weak or feable to those with some types of cancers. There are many types of cupping but the most common type involves cupping over healthy skin that is lightly oiled to prevent blistering. Cups can also be slided over the skin and can mimic gua sha, or scraping, which is also similar in that a light liniment or oil is applied onto the skin before gently scraping to release the skin's exterior. Like cupping, if there's an external pathogenic attack, the skin will have discoloration. Depending on which element has been trapped under the skin, the colors could be light pink, red to purple. This color normally takes 2 to 3 days to disappear but we often say to give it about 7 days. Covering the cupped area is also recommended to avoid just in case the elements could re-enter pores that might still be opened. Light Therapy You might have seen a lamp placed over someone getting acupuncture. They might be placed over the abdomen or feet to warm the body when extremeties get cold. It is also used because it is common for the body to become cooler during acupuncture and far infrared heat lamps or TDP lamps can help warm the body by way of channels. When heat comes into contact with the skin, the local area is warmed and this warmthed can sometimes travel. In most cases it will probably stay in the local area and the light's warmth can possibly attract blood flow to the area. We can look to three channels that influence blood in TCM. They are the heart, liver and spleen. The liver stores blood, the heart governs or guides blood, while the spleen, based on the qi pathway, plays a big role in blood formation from post heaven qi. When extremities are cold, this is interpreted to mean that liver blood is blocked and can't spread, or we refer to this as liver qi stagnation. This is when far infrared light therapy could help to promote the flow of qi, phlegm and blood through warmth. This can also apply in the case when the spleen is cold and possibly diagnosed as damp cold or dampness due to cold. The coldness and dampness slows the qi pathway flow. In this case, about 5 to 10 minutes and up to 15 minutes of heat therapy coupled with acupuncture can reintroduce warmth to the spleen channel. These are a couple of examples to explain how light therapy could help warm the body through channels that affect the blood flow in the body. And definitely communicate with your practitioner about any condition(s) you might have, like diabetic neuropathy, which will affect the level of heat you can feel or not feel. References: Anastasi, J. K., & Dawes, N. C. (2022). The case for moxibustion for painful syndromes: History, principles and rationale. Current Research in Complementary Alternative Medicine, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.29011/2577-2201.100053 {author_string}. (n.d.). About acupuncture: {title: Acupunture Today. Acupuncture Today. https://acupuncturetoday.com/about-acupuncture/electroacupuncture Deadman, P., Al-Khafaji, M., & Baker, K. (2003). A manual of acupuncture. Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic. Evidence Based Acupuncture. (2024, June 8). Evidence based acupuncture. https://www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org/ Furhad, S., Bokhari., A., & Sina, R. E. (2023, October 30). Cupping therapy. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538253/ Rodrigues, J. M., Ventura, C., Abreu, M., Santos, C., Monte, J., Machado, J. P., & Santos, R. V. (2023). Electro-acupuncture effects measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging—A systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Healthcare, 12(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12010002 Wang, Y., Sui, B., Zhang, Y., Fang, L., Xie, Y., Fang, Y., & Wang, R. (2025). Effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the immune function of patients with malignant tumors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Immunology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1583522 Disclaimer: Information on this page, and all other associated links to this page, is not intended to make claims that acupuncture, herbal supplements or recipes can cure, prevent or treat any health conditions but is for educational purposes only.
© 2024-2026 Magnolia Acupuncture & Herbal Clinic LLC