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What are the benefits of moxibustion at the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint?

Dec 30, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, Zusanli (ST36) is one of the major acupuncture points in traditional Chinese medicine, belonging to the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, and is located on the anterior side of the lower leg. Moxibustion at the Zusanli point can help relieve fatigue, enhance immunity, improve sleep, regulate the spleen and stomach, promote digestion, and offer other benefits. In daily life, attention should be paid to dietary regulation, avoiding overeating, and consuming less raw, cold, greasy, spicy, and other irritating foods to protect the health of the spleen and stomach.

　　Under normal circumstances, Zusanli (ST36) is one of the acupuncture points in traditional Chinese medicine and belongs to the main acupoints of the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming, located on the anterior side of the lower leg. Moxibustion at Zusanli can help relieve fatigue, enhance immunity, improve sleep, regulate the spleen and stomach, and promote digestion. Detailed explanations are as follows:

　　

　　1. Relieve fatigue

　　Moxibustion at Zusanli can stimulate nerve endings at the acupoint, regulate nervous system function through nerve reflex conduction, promote the elimination of metabolic products, relax body muscles, thereby alleviating fatigue and restoring energy.

　　2. Enhance immunity

　　Moxibustion at Zusanli can stimulate the immune system, promote systemic circulation of qi and blood, increase the production of white blood cells and antibodies, thereby enhancing the body's resistance and preventing colds and other infectious diseases.

　　3. Improve sleep

　　Moxibustion at Zusanli has the effect of calming the mind and aiding sleep. It can regulate the nervous system, alleviate tension and anxiety, and promote deep sleep. For individuals suffering from long-term insomnia or poor sleep quality, moxibustion at Zusanli is a safe and effective method for improving sleep.

　　4. Regulate the spleen and stomach

　　Moxibustion at Zusanli can improve the function of the spleen and stomach, alleviate clinical symptoms such as stomach pain, abdominal distension, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. As an important acupoint of the stomach meridian, moxibustion at Zusanli can warm the middle jiao, strengthen the spleen, and enhance the transformation and transportation functions of the spleen and stomach, thus effectively improving various discomfort symptoms caused by spleen and stomach weakness.

　　5. Promote digestion

　　Moxibustion at Zusanli helps regulate gastrointestinal motility, enhance the tension and contractility of gastrointestinal smooth muscles, promote secretion of digestive fluids, and increase the activity of digestive enzymes, thereby improving gastrointestinal function and promoting food digestion and absorption. Long-term consistent moxibustion at Zusanli can effectively prevent and alleviate symptoms such as indigestion.

　　In daily life, attention should be paid to dietary regulation, avoiding overeating, and consuming less raw, cold, greasy, spicy, and other irritating foods to protect the health of the spleen and stomach.

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