Moxibustion for Water Retention
By Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto | Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Wokingham
Moxibustion — the burning of dried mugwort over acupuncture points — is one of the most effective treatments for water retention and oedema rooted in kidney yang deficiency or spleen yang deficiency. The deep, penetrating warmth of moxibustion directly tonifies yang energy, restoring the kidney's and spleen's ability to transform and excrete fluids properly.
When Moxibustion Is Indicated for Water Retention
Moxibustion is most appropriate for water retention characterised by: cold, heavy swelling of the lower limbs that is worse in cold weather; morning facial puffiness (see our article on puffy face in the morning); premenstrual bloating with cold lower abdomen; oedema accompanying kidney yang deficiency symptoms (cold lower back, fatigue, nocturia); and abdominal bloating with loose stools and poor digestion suggesting spleen yang deficiency.
Key Points
Moxibustion for fluid retention focuses on points that warm kidney and spleen yang and drain dampness: CV 4 (Guanyuan) — tonifies kidney yang; CV 8 (Shenque) — applied indirectly through salt, powerfully warms the middle and lower burner; ST 36 (Zusanli) — strengthens spleen and stomach qi; SP 9 (Yinlingquan) — the principal point for draining dampness; BL 23 (Shenshu) — tonifies kidney yang directly.
Combined Treatment
Moxibustion works best combined with acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatment. Wu Ling San and Zhen Wu Tang are the classical herbal formulas for water retention due to kidney yang deficiency and spleen-kidney yang deficiency respectively. I prescribe pharmaceutical-grade granules from Sun Ten in Taiwan.
To discuss water retention and moxibustion, contact me or book a consultation in Wokingham.
