The Power of San Fu Moxibustion for Enhanced Health

By Dr. Heidi Lovie, [Headshot of Dr. Heidi Lovie]. Squarespace. Available here.

San Fu moxibustion, or San Fu Tie, is an ancient Chinese therapy that revitalizes the body and mind. At Kamwo Herbs, we are passionate about this seasonal therapy and excited to share its principles and benefits with you, in collaboration with Dr. Heidi Lovie.

Understanding San Fu Moxibustion

San Fu moxibustion, rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), harnesses the body’s energy and strengthens the immune system by applying herbal pastes to acupuncture points. It’s particularly effective for chronic conditions like asthma, allergies, and digestive disorders.

Heavenly Moxibustion and San Fu

Heavenly Moxibustion, dating back to the Qing Dynasty, has gained renewed interest in recent years. Instead of using mugwort, it uses herbs ground into a powder, mixed with fresh ginger juice, and taped to points to treat asthma, lung disorders, and allergies affecting the upper respiratory system. The treatment is traditionally done on specific summer days according to the Chinese calendar and Daoist cosmology, aligning with the hottest days of the year, also known as the "Dog Days of Summer."

Credit: Kamwo

Moxibustion: An Ancient Heat Therapy

Moxibustion is an ancient form of heat therapy that predates acupuncture, known as zhen jiu (针灸) in Chinese. It involves burning mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) at or above specific acupuncture points to stimulate circulation and improve health. Modern research shows moxa therapy effectively raises white blood cell counts in debilitated patients and is famously used to reposition breech babies. There are three main types of moxibustion:

1. Needle Moxibustion: Mugwort is molded into small balls and placed on the end of needles to provide deep tissue warmth.

2. Direct Moxibustion: Mugwort is applied directly to the skin or placed on substances like salt or ginger to warm acupuncture points.

3. Indirect Moxibustion: Mugwort is compressed into a cigar-like pole, lit, and held above the skin to warm regions or points indirectly.

Timing and Science Behind San Fu

San Fu moxibustion is administered during the hottest days of the year, in three sessions spaced 10 days apart, aligning with the body’s maximum Yang energy. The heat opens the skin’s pores, allowing herbs like mustard seed, ginger, and ephedra to penetrate deeply and act more effectively.

Benefits of San Fu Moxibustion

• Boosts Immune Function: Enhances the body’s immune response, making it more resilient against seasonal illnesses.

• Improves Respiratory Health: Provides significant relief from asthma, chronic bronchitis, and allergies.

• Enhances Digestive Health: Improves circulation and energy flow to digestive organs.

• Promotes Overall Wellness: Leads to improved energy levels, better sleep, and general well-being.

What to Expect During a San Fu Session

During a San Fu session, practitioners apply a specially prepared herbal paste to specific acupuncture points on your back. The paste is covered with a small adhesive to keep it in place. Patients typically experience a warming sensation, indicating the herbs are penetrating the skin and starting their therapeutic work. Each session lasts about 30 minutes, and it’s normal to feel slight redness or tingling at the application sites, which usually subsides within a few hours.

Post-Treatment Care

Post-treatment care is crucial for maximizing the benefits of San Fu moxibustion. After your session, avoid cold foods and drinks, strenuous exercise, and exposure to cold air. These precautions help the herbs work effectively. Drinking warm water and eating light, easily digestible foods support your body’s natural healing processes.

Experience the Healing Power of San Fu

We are dedicated to preserving and promoting the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Our San Fu moxibustion sessions provide the highest quality care, combining traditional techniques with modern expertise. Whether you seek to improve respiratory health, boost your immune system, or enhance your overall well-being, San Fu moxibustion offers a natural and effective solution.

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About Dr. Heidi Lovie

Dr. Heidi Lovie, DACM, is a private practitioner specializing in Acupuncture and Asian Medicine, with a focus on autoimmune disorders, particularly Hashimoto's. She also addresses women's health, pain management, HIV management, cancer care, and complex cases. Dr. Lovie integrates functional and integrative medicine into her practice, utilizing modern clinical knowledge alongside classical Chinese medicine. She is also a clinic supervisor and instructor at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, with extensive training in Master Tung's Acupuncture system.

For more details about San Fu moxibustion and its benefits, join us for an in-person Kamwo Meetup with Dr. Heidi Lovie on Friday, June 28th!

To explore more in-depth information and additional follow-up care details, visit Dr. Heidi Lovie’s website here.

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine and How and Why it Works | Kamwo gives you the low down.

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Traditional Chinese Medicine, you’ve heard about it and would like to know more. Maybe you have experienced acupuncture or read about the benefits of herbs. We are here to give you a foundational overview of a complex and ancient form of prevention and healing that is still in use today by hundreds of millions of people. So let’s dive in.

Is Traditional Chinese Medicine a recognized branch of healing?

Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, is one of the oldest modes of medicine in the world and traces its origins to the Zhou Dynasty. Much like Western medicine, TCM evolved its findings and modalities over the centuries and compiled these findings and treatments into four compendiums constituting the backbone of TCM practice. 

The World Health Organization (WHO)  has given the nod to TCM and, during the pandemic, conducted a meeting on the evaluation of TCM for treating Covid 19. In the US, modalities of Traditional Chinese medicine, such as acupuncture, are offered in many caregiving facilities. Individuals turn to TCM as a complementary treatment for infertility, pain, tranquility, and sleeplessness. Of course, the best results for TCM are achieved through consultation with a Western health practitioner, preferably one educated in herbal medicine.  

However, while acknowledging the benefits, western science has yet to prove the foundation and claims of TCM. 

So What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

The origin of TCM is spiritual and based on Taoism.  The essential underpinning of Taoism is balance. The concept is that humans and animals should live in balance and harmony with the universe, and following death, the spirit lives on eternally within the universe. 

Traditional Chinese Medicine embodies the balance theory, yin (cold)  and yang (hot). Male and female. Wet and dry. Illness, discomfort, and pain may result when yin and yang are in imbalance. Yin and yang are also associated with different parts and organs of our body.  Treatment for yin may be yang and yang for yin. Ultimately, the goal is to balance qi energy, the body’s life force.

As in Western medicine, several methodologies are used to diagnose and treat illness in Traditional Chinese Medicine. 

You may be familiar with some aspects of TCM, like acupuncture, tai chi, and herbology but perhaps less familiar with meridians and the five elements theory. 

The four pillars of TCM diagnostics are inspection, observation, listening, interrogation, and palpitation. Based on these findings, TCM doctors prescribe herbs, ointments, salves, creams, acupuncture, and other techniques to restore balance. Diagnosis is based on meridians which run through the body, and consideration of the Five Elements. 

TCM, like Western medicine, contains a vast body of knowledge. The practice of TCM requires a Master's degree to practice in the United States. It is impossible to summarize the complexities of TCM into a paragraph or two; however, below is a brief overview of the basics of TCM.  

Meridians 

Consider meridians as a super highway of energy. There are 12 meridians, and these 12 meridians are classified as yin and yang. If the meridians fall out of sync, this will lead to an imbalance in the human body. A practitioner may prescribe acupuncture to restore balance to the meridians. 

Traditional Chinese Medicine and The Five Elements 

The five elements are wood, fire, earth, water, and metal.  The elements must align and work harmoniously within the body and the universe for optimal wellness.  The five elements also control your personality type.

Treatments 

Depending on your practitioner’s findings, there are a variety of treatments they may recommend. Below is a sampling:

Tai Chi

Tai Chi originated as a martial art form in China but today is valued for deep relaxation.  It involves a series of slow-motion exercises conducive to meditation and deep breathing. Tai Chi has gained a large following in the US and is valued for treating health conditions, promoting rehabilitation,  flexibility, and prevention related to aging. It encourages breathing, focus, and balance and promotes tranquility and calm. 

Acupuncture

Always ensure your provider is licensed because you don’t want just anyone placing needles in your body, which is what acupuncture is. Thin needles are painlessly inserted into the meridians of the body. As discussed, Meridians are the body's lanes that transport qi the flow of human energy.  There are 12 major meridians in the body. Some are yin, and some are yang.  Acupuncture, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine providers, aligns qi.

In the West, acupuncture is thought to stimulate the central nervous system and release chemicals that encourage healing.  Many people turn to acupuncture to relieve pain and to address infertility.

Herbs

Unlike Western drugs that address a specific complaint, herbs prescribed are designed to manage your entire body. Herbs may be in the form of granules, teas, or elixirs.  They may also be custom blended.  Your TCM practitioner will guide you to the correct dosage. 

Safety of Chinese Herbs and Remedies

Do you know what Ti Xuan Gao is? If not, don’t feel bad.  Neither do some practitioners of TCM who have a superficial knowledge of this form of healing.  Knowing how to prescribe and determine the authenticity and sustainability of herbal treatment is a science.   At Kamwo, we bring 50 years of knowledge and expertise to the table. Our practitioners all are certified and licensed where required. We rely on a network of trustworthy suppliers that we have conducted business with for decades, so you can purchase from us with the confidence that you are buying the purest, top-of-the-line, most genuine, and authentic herbs available. 

Want to experience TCM for yourself?  Let's Get Started  

Love the idea of all-natural, healing, and prevention?  Then welcome to the Kamwo Store. Here you will find the most extensive assortment of Chinese herbs, healing products, teas, treatments, and more. We have been in business in the heart of China Town in New York City for 50 years.  Our herbs and remedies are sourced from reliable, trustworthy partners with whom we have worked for many years. Whether your practitioner has recommended a specific herb or you would like to explore more for yourself, reach out with any questions about our products to customerservice@kamwo.com.

Pain? Allergies? Other discomforts? Don’t wait.  Start healing and feeling better now.

As always, refer to your physician if you have any questions or concerns about interactions.