Moxibustion is a therapeutic procedure involving ignited material (usually moxa) to apply heat to certain points (mainly acupuncture points) or areas of the body surface for curing disease through regulation of the function of meridians and visceral organs. Cupping is another therapeutic method involving the application of suction by placing a vacuumed, usually by fire, cup or jar onto the affected part or any part of the body surface, mostly at acupoints.

Moxa cone moxibustion* is moxibustion with an ignited moxa cone either directly or indirectly. The size of moxa cone varies from the size of a wheat grain to the size of a Chinese date. The moxa cone is placed on the acupoint selected for treatment.

Direct moxibustion* is moxibustion in which an ignited moxa cone is applied directly on the skin surface at the point (Fig. 14-9). Prior to moxibustion, some garlic juice or vase line* can be applied to the site of the skin in order to increase the adhesion* of the moxa cone to the skin. This type of moxibustion is either scarring (not recommended in the modern time) or non-scarring according to the degree of burning over the skin.

Indirect moxibustion* is moxibustion performed by placing some insulating material between the moxa cone and the skin. The insulating materials usually are ginger, garlic and salt. Moxibustion on ginger* is the application of moxibustion on a piece of fresh ginger about 0.2-0.3 cm thick as an insulating medium. This method is usually used to treat a painful impediment disease caused by wind cold, cold abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Moxibustion on garlic* is moxibustion in which the moxa cone is placed on a slice of fresh garlic as an insulating medium.

Moxa stick moxibustion* is a type of moxibustion using an ignited moxa stick instead of a moxa cone. Usually each acupoint can be moxibusted for 5-7 minutes. Suspended moxibustion and pressing moxibustion are the main types of moxa stick moxibustion.

Suspended moxibustion* means the ignited moxa stick is held above the skin. Pressing moxibustion* is performed by placing several layers of cloth or paper on the spot, and then pressing the ignited end of the moxa stick on the cloth or paper.

Additionally, moxibustion can be applied to a warm acupuncture needle during the retention of the needle. The needle handle is inserted into a moxa cone or moxa stick about 2 cm.

TCM practitioners have invented many natural ways for the treatment of diseases, such as cupping. Cupping is a method that causes local congestion through the negative pressure created by heat produced by ignited material in the cup or jar.

Flash-fire cupping method* is a cupping procedure which involves flashing the fire of a piece of ignited alcohol-cotton (usually use forceps to hold 70%-95 % alcohol cotton) once around the cup's interior and pressing the cup onto the treated area immediately after removing the ignited cotton (Fig. 14-10).

Fire-insertion cupping method* involves inserting a piece of ignited alcohol-cotton or paper into a cup and pressing the cup transversely onto the treated area.