Can gastric ulcers be treated with moxibustion?

Patients with gastric ulcers can generally undergo moxibustion therapy. However, for patients in the acute phase, moxibustion might exacerbate local inflammatory responses. Whether moxibustion is suitable for treating gastric ulcers depends on the individual patient's specific condition.

As a traditional Chinese medical therapy, moxibustion involves applying heat stimulation generated by burning processed mugwort to achieve effects such as warming meridians and collaterals and promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis. It serves as an adjunctive treatment for mild stomach pain, diarrhea, and other digestive system disorders.

Gastric ulcers are mucosal injuries caused by excessive gastric acid secretion, and the gastric mucosa of affected patients has already been damaged. For patients with gastric ulcers, moxibustion can, to some extent, help improve abdominal blood circulation, alleviate gastric discomfort, and promote ulcer healing.

However, whether moxibustion is appropriate for treating gastric ulcers depends on each patient's specific condition. If the patient is in the acute phase or has significant inflammation or bleeding, moxibustion might intensify local inflammation and even increase the risk of bleeding; therefore, it should be avoided. Conversely, for patients with chronic gastric ulcers or those in the ulcer healing phase, moxibustion may serve as a relatively gentle and effective adjunctive treatment. Patients should consume low-fiber, easily digestible, and non-irritating foods. They should avoid eating raw potatoes, vegetables high in coarse fiber, hard-to-digest glutinous rice and nuts, coffee, alcohol, and similar items as much as possible.

Moxibustion therapy for gastric ulcers should be conducted under a physician's guidance, with suitable acupoints and appropriate moxa dosage selected based on individual constitution and condition to avoid adverse outcomes caused by improper application.