What is Tian Jiu?

Tian Jiu 天灸

Tian Jiu (TJ) is an external application is also known as drug moxibustion or vesiculation moxibustion. Herbal patches are applied on the selected acupuncture points or diseased areas, it has a dual effect for acupuncture point stimulation and absorbing the active ingredients from the herbal paste through the skin.

TJ is like the transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS), but it has a different background foundation which is the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory. According to the TCM theory, TJ is a non-invasive therapy that regulates the functions of channels and Zang Fu organs, warm the channels and disperse coldness. It also invigorates Qi movement, harmonizes the Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) and Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi), free course Qi stagnation, and removes blood stasis.

There are two types of TJ, one is called San Fu Jiu (三伏灸) and the other is called San Jiu Jiu (三九灸), they refer to apply the TJ therapy in the hottest and coldest days of the year respectively.

San Fu Tian Jiu 三伏天灸

San Fu Tian refers to the three days which are the hottest (dog days) and have the highest level of Yang in our body. Using TJ therapy during San Fu Tian is called San Fu Tian Jiu. According to the TCM theories of treating winter disease in summer and cultivating Yang in spring and summer, applying TJ in dog days can strengthen the Yang of the body and reduce the chance of getting ill in winter, also it is the best time to expel and warm the cold in the body.

As we are in New Zealand, the southern hemisphere, the dog days of this year (lunar year) are 21st Dec 2021, 30th Dec 2021, and 8th Jan 2022.

San Jiu Tian Jiu 三九天灸

According to the Chinese lunar calendar, there are three phases after the winter solstice, the first days of these three phases are called San Jiu Tian, when nature and the human body stay at the most debilitating condition in Yang, especially susceptible to respiratory diseases. Applying TJ can invigorate the circulation of Qi and blood, strengthen body resistance, the Wei Qi (Defensive Qi), to boost immunity.

The three days for San Jiu Jiu of this year were 21st Jul, 31st Jul, and 10th Aug.

Indications

• Respiratory diseases: e.g., Rhinitis (including allergic rhinitis, AR), Chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, Hay Fever, Persistent Coughing, Perennial common cold (weak body constitution), etc

• Digestive diseases: e.g., Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Indigestion, Poor appetite, Bloating, Enteritis, Chronic gastritis, etc

• Spine & Joints: e.g., Cervical spondylosis, Frozen shoulder, Disc herniation, Osteoarthritis, etc

• Gynaecological disease: e.g., Painful period, irregular period, abnormal discharge, etc

• Neuropathy & mental disease: e.g., facial paralysis, prosopalgia, intercostal neuralgia, Parkinson's disease (PD), anxiety, depression, Withdrawal syndrome, etc.

Point prescription for boosting immunity

Contraindications:

• Bronchial asthma episode

• Having fever or upper respiratory tract diseases

• Children under one-year-old, pregnant women

• People with tuberculosis, heart or lung disease, diabetes, cancer, Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD deficiency)

• Skin allergy

Cautions:

• Hot bath/shower is recommended on the day receiving treatment

• Tear off the TJ patches after 4 - 6 hours of application

• Tear off the TJ patches if there is severe itchiness and/or pain

• If there are blisters after tearing off the TJ patches, please disinfect the skin, cover it with sterile gauze and contact your practitioner

• Avoid spicy, raw and cold, fishy, deep-fried foods, cigarettes and alcohol after treatment