Moxibustion for Treating Knee Osteoarthritis
Moxibustion for Treating Knee Osteoarthritis
In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), it is believed that patients with knee osteoarthritis have a deficiency of liver and kidney qi and blood. The liver blood cannot nourish the tendons, and the kidney essence cannot nourish the bones. Additionally, weak Zheng Qi (the body's defensive energy) makes it vulnerable to invasion by wind, cold, and dampness, leading to the development of the disease. Using moxibustion therapy to treat knee osteoarthritis reflects the treatment principle of "warming for cold conditions."
The treatment points are as follows:
Xi Yan Points (膝眼穴):
Location: Bend the knee, find the depressions on both sides of the patellar ligament. The inner ones are called the inner knee eyes, and the outer ones are called the outer knee eyes. There are a total of four points (two on each knee).
Function: Promotes blood circulation, opens up the meridians, and alleviates joint pain. It can be used to treat knee osteoarthritis and leg pain.
Yin Ling Quan Point(阴陵泉穴):
Location: Sit upright or lie on your back. On the inside of the lower leg, in the depression just below the posterior border of the tibia.
Function: Clears heat, nourishes the spleen, regulates qi, nourishes the kidneys, regulates menstruation, and activates meridians. It can be used to treat knee osteoarthritis and related conditions.
Yang Ling Quan Point(阳陵泉穴):
Location: Sit upright with the knee bent. On the outside of the lower leg, in the depression just below the front of the head of the fibula.
Function: Soothes the liver, benefits the gallbladder, strengthens the lower back and knees, relaxes tendons, activates meridians, and relieves pain. It can treat knee joint swelling and pain, as well as numbness in the lower limbs.
Shen Que Point(神阙穴):
Location: Lie on your back. In the middle of the abdomen, at the center of the navel.
Function: Nourishes the source, consolidates the foundation, harmonizes the stomach, and regulates the intestines. It can be used to treat arthritis.
These points are used in moxibustion therapy to improve the condition of knee osteoarthritis by addressing underlying deficiencies and promoting circulation and joint health.
