Reference; https://mbp-japan.com/tokyo/seino-1987/column/5107924/
Modified and translated by CFJA
In “What is Eastern Medicine? 11”, we have mentioned that there are three terms to express the sensations felt during the practice of acupuncture therapy: shinshoku 鍼触, shinmyo 鍼妙, and shinkyo 鍼響.
1) Shinshoku 鍼触 (surface acupuncture sensation): A subtle sensation only perceived by the practitioner when the needle tip touches the skin before the needle enters the body.
2) Shinmyo 鍼妙 (mysterious acupuncture sensation): A sensation only perceived by the practitioner when the needle enters the body.
3) Shinkyo 鍼響 (vibrational acupuncture sensation): A sensation perceived by the practitioner when the needle enters the muscles and the patient feels a vibration.
Dr. Seino created the term shinshoku 鍼触, since no term as such existed.
Similarly, there are three terms to express the sensations felt during the practice of moxibustion therapy: kyumyo 灸妙, kyuon 灸温, and kyutsu 灸痛. These terms are useful in explaining the moxibustion techniques.
1) Kyumyo 灸妙 (mysterious moxibustion sensation): A heat sensation perceived to the degree of skin reddening but moxa is removed before the patient feels the warmth as the moxa heat approaches closer.
2) Kyuon 灸温 (warm moxibustion sensation): A heat sensation perceived to the degree of skin reddening after moxa is removed when the patient feels the warmth as the moxa heat approaches closer.
3) Kyutsu 灸痛 (pricking moxibustion sensation): A heat sensation perceived to the degree of the patient feeling warmth as pain when moxa heat approaches closer.
Dr. Seino created all three terms above. He is preparing to announce the terms to the public. The creation of the terms has made it so much easier to explain the moxibustion techniques in detail.
Cheng Dan’an attempted to transmit the Japanese moxibustion therapy. It must have been very challenging without the terms. He categorized the moxibustion therapy into eight types:
Ⅰ) Direct moxibustion 直接灸 (Jp. chokusetsukyu)
Ⅱ) Ginger moxibustion 隔姜灸 (Jp. kakukyokyu)
Ⅲ) Garlic moxibustion 隔蒜灸 (Jp. kakusankyu)
Ⅳ) Bean cake moxibustion 豉餅灸 (Jp. shiheikyu)
Ⅴ) Aconite moxibustion 附子灸 (Jp. bushikyu)
Ⅵ) Warm needle moxibustion 温針灸 (Jp. onshinkyu/unshinkyu ) *Aka netsubari 熱針 (heat needle)
Ⅶ) Warming apparatus moxibustion 温灸器灸 (Jp. Onkyukikyu)
Ⅷ) Herb-mixed stick moxibustion method 葯条灸法 (Jp. Yakujyokyuho)
Ⅰ) refers to permeable moxibustion, one of the Japanese scarring moxibustion. Ⅱ)～Ⅴ) is insulating moxibustion. A method taught as non-scarring moxibustion in Japan. Ⅶ) is a method that utilizes an apparatus, practiced both in Japan and China. Ⅷ) is “The Divine Needle” Moxibustion Technique 「太乙神針」灸法 ※3 and “Thunder and Fire Divine Needle” Moxibustion Technique「雷火神針」灸法※3. From Ⅰ) to Ⅶ), it can be said that he has adopted the methods from Japan.
Currently, Ⅰ) Direct moxibustion is rarely practiced in China. Ⅱ)〜Ⅶ) is practiced depending on the practitioner, however, it is rarely seen. Ⅷ) “The Divine Needle” Moxibustion Technique 「太乙神針」灸法 ※3 and “Thunder and Fire Divine Needle” Moxibustion Technique「雷火神針」灸法 ※3 are not practiced in China and the mainstream is stick moxibustion, a method that warms the area by igniting the thin long stick made from unrefined rough moxa wrapped with paper. Hence, it is no exaggeration to say that moxibustion therapy is not practiced in China. Even at the International Conference of the World Federation of Acupuncture–Moxibustion Societies, no presentation about moxibustion therapy was given – Dr. Seino does not remember seeing a single one. Thus, it can be said that the moxibustion therapy that Cheng Dan’an has brought back to China has gone extinct.
But, why?
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