Daily Wellness Guide — Common Acupoints for Home Moxibustion

With the rising popularity of portable moxa boxes and smokeless moxa sticks, moxibustion has moved from TCM clinics into everyday homes. If you want to try moxibustion at home, the following safe and highly effective “star acupoints” are the best places to start.

Three Golden Acupoints for Home Use

1. Zusanli (Regulates Digestion, Strengthens the Body)

• Location: Located on the outer side of the lower leg, about four finger-widths (3 cun) below the kneecap.

• Benefits: Known as the “longevity acupoint.” Moxibustion here regulates the stomach and spleen, improves digestion, significantly boosts immunity, and relieves physical fatigue.

2. Shenque (Warms Yang, Regulates the Gut)

• Location: Exactly in the center of the belly button.

• Benefits: Shenque is a crucial hub of vitality. Moxibustion over the navel warms the core and dispels cold. It is excellent for alleviating menstrual cramps caused by a “cold uterus” and helps with weak intestinal function (such as frequent bloating or diarrhea).

3. Dazhui (Dispels Cold, Relieves Neck Tension)

• Location: The hollow just below the most prominent bone at the base of your neck (the 7th cervical vertebra) when you tilt your head forward.

• Benefits: Dazhui is where the body’s Yang energy converges. During the early stages of a cold, or when experiencing neck and shoulder stiffness from looking at a phone for too long, moxibustion here quickly dispels “wind-cold” and relaxes the muscles.

Tips for Home Moxibustion

• Time Control: Generally, 10 to 15 minutes per acupoint is sufficient. The skin should look slightly red and feel warm, but not painfully hot.

• Order of Application: TCM suggests a specific sequence: “Back before chest/abdomen, head and torso before limbs.”

• Stay Warm and Avoid Drafts: Your pores open up during moxibustion. Never sit in front of an AC or fan while doing it. Keep warm afterward and drink a glass of warm water to stay hydrated.