9　What Is HSM?

HSM and traditional suspended moxibustion administer heat to acupoints in similar ways. However, they differ in the four aspects of sensation, location, dosage and therapeutic effect.

HSM is a type of suspended moxibustion that uses the heat produced by burning moxa to stimulate heat-sensitive acupoints. It aims to elicit the sensations of HSM(penetrating heat, expanding heat, transmitting heat, distal but not local heat, deep but not surface heat, non-heat sensations) and transmission of channel qi through a personalized moxibustion dosage that eliminates the heat sensitization.

When traditional suspended moxibustion is administered on channel points it elicits local superficial warmth, and does not involve personalized moxibustion dosages. This makes it difficult to achieve the best therapeutic effect possible.

Both HSM and traditional mild moxibustion are administered on acupoints, but they differ in several aspects.

First, they differ in sensation. Moxibustion sensations are the physical feelings patients experience when receiving moxibustion. In suspended moxibustion, the heat from the moxa acts on the body surface to produce a local sensation of heat. It is said that, “The essence of acupuncture lies in the arrival of qi, because this ensures the therapeutic effect,”[1] which means that activating the channel qi and causing it to transmit to the affected part of the body is vitally important. HSM emphasizes the six sensations described above, as well as eliciting transmission of channel qi to the affected body part.On the contrary, the sensation of the traditional moxibustion is only local superficial heat.

Second, the places that receive moxibustion are different. HSM administers moxibustion on heat-sensitive acupoints, which are extremely sensitive to the heat stimulation of burning moxa. Using such points makes it much easier for channel qi to transmit, and allows a big reaction to be produced by small stimulation. Traditional moxibustion, which does not recognize sensitized and tranquilized acupoints, applies moxibustion on points based on pattern differentiation, and usually achieves a low rate of channel qi transmission.

Third, the amount of moxibustion is different. The dosage of moxibustion can be divided into three aspects: intensity, area and time. If the first two elements are constant,dosage in moxibustion depends solely on the amount of time the therapy is administered.With HSM, the time each point receives moxibustion is not fixed, but varies according to the individual, disease and acupoint. The amount of time is determined by how long it takes for the heat-sensitive sensation to disappear, which is also the amount of moxibustion the body needs. However, the amount of time in traditional suspended moxibustion is between 10 and 15 minutes for each point, or until the skin reddens. This is not an individualized or optimal amount of moxibustion.

Fourth, the therapeutic effects are different. According to research over the past two decades, the therapeutic effect of HSM is much better than that of traditional suspended moxibustion because HSM stimulates the channel qi and causes it to transmit to the affected body part. This meets the requirements of the ancients, who said, “The arrival of qi ensures the therapeutic effect.”[2] HSM is particularly effective in the following diseases: bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, functional constipation, primary dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic inflammation,impotence, facial paralysis, cervical spondylosis, prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc,osteoarthritis of the knee and myofascial pain.