Moxibustion & the 6th Chinese Solar Term

The sixth Chinese Solar Term is called 'Gu Yu', 'Grain Rain'.  It arrives on 19/04/2016. It is the last Solar term in Spring.  Crops grow due to plentiful rainfall from then on. Temperature goes up more quickly than other time of Spring. The amount of rainfall and higher temperature are very important for crops growth. After this day, theduckweed starts to grow after rainfall, the cuckoo starts to sing and hoopoe starts to appear on mulberry tree.

For general health preservation, during this period of time, digestive system starts to get stronger again and the Heart Qi, energy in heart meridians, starts to get stronger gradually. So, it's very important to nourish and invigorate Spleen Qi, energy in spleen meridians. 

The following acupuncture points could be used with moxibustiontcm therapy for regimen and healthcare.

Xin Shu, also known as 'Heart Shu, BL 15, UB 15'

Pi Shu, also known as ' Spleen Shu, BL 20, UB 20'

Nei Guan, also known as 'Inner Gate, Pericardium 6, P-6'

Zhong Wan, also known as 'CV 12, Ren-12'

Qi Hai, also known as 'CV 6, Ren-6'

Zu San Li, also known as ' ST 36, Stomach-36' 

Yin Ling Quan, also known as 'Spleen9, SP-9'

San Yin Jiao, also known as 'Spleen 6, SP-6'

Moxibustion & the 5th Chinese Solar term

The fifth Solar term of the 24 Chinese Solar Terms is called: Qing Ming, The pure brightness. It arrives on 04/04/2016. Grass and trees thrive more from now on. The Yang energy rises more both in Nature and human body.

For health preservation, during this period of time, it's  important to nourish blood and liver and strengthen the function of spleen and stomach. 

The following acupuncture points could be used with moxibustion therapy for regimen and healthcare.

Da Zhui, also known as 'GV14', 'Du-14'

Zhi Yang, also known as 'GV9'

Gan Shu, also known as 'Liver Shu', 'BL18'

Zhong Wan, also known as 'CV 12, Ren-12'

Qi Hai, also known as 'CV 6, Ren-6'

Zu San Li, also known as ' ST 36, Stomach-36' 

Moxibustion & the 4th Chinese Solar Term

The fourth Solar Term of the Chinese 24 Solar Term is called: Chun Fen, Spring Solstice. It comes on 20/03/2016. The length of day and night are almost equal on this day. The Yin energy and Yang energy in Nature are equal. 

For health preservation, it’s important to prevent Liver Qi, the energy in the Liver meridians ascending too much so that the digestive system would be protected and nourished.

The following acupuncture points could be used with moxibustion therapy for regimen and healthcare.

Da Zhui, also known as ‘GV14’, ‘Du-14’t

Gan Shu, also known as ‘Livet Shu’, ‘BL18’

Zhong Wan, also known as ‘CV 12, Ren-12’

Qi Hai, also known as ‘CV 6, Ren-6'

Zu San Li, also known as ‘ ST 36, Stomach-36’ 

Tai Chong, also known as ‘ LV 3, Liver-3’

Moxibustion & the 3rd Chinese Solar term

The third solar term of the 24 solar terns is called “Jing Zhe”,  the awakening of insects. It occurs on 05/03 this year. 

The traditional Chinese folklore says that from this time, thunderstorms would wake up hibernating insects which indicates the weather is getting warmer.

During this period of time, there could be big temperature changes within single day. It’s still important to keep warm.

This is the time for nourishing Yang energy (Yang Qi) and energy in the live meridians and gallbladder meridians. 

For general wellbeing, the following acupuncture points can be used with moxibustion therapy: 

1. Da Zhui, also known as ‘GV14’, ‘Du-14’

2. Gan Shu, also known as ‘Liver Shu’, ‘BL18’

3. Qi Hai, also named as ‘Sea of Qi’, ‘CV6’, ‘Ren-6’

4. Yang Chi, also known as ‘TH 4’

5. Tai Chong, also named as ‘ LV 3’

Moxibustion & the 2nd Chinese Solar term

The second Solar term is called ‘ Yu Shui’, also known as ‘ The rain water’ in English. It comes on 19/02/2016.

In general, at this time of the year, temperature rises above zero degrees Celsius, snow melts,  rainfall gets a little bit more, which is good for the growth of main crops. 

In human body, the Yang energy rises slightly more. Doing some moxibustion treatment on some acupuncture pointscould be beneficial for human body. It’s important to protect and nourish the  digestive system, including liver, gallbladder,  stomach and spleen.

Reference acupuncture points for general wellbeing could be: 

Zhong Wan, also known as ‘CV 12, Ren-12’.

Qi Hai, also known as ‘CV 6, Ren-6'

Zu San Li, also known as ‘ ST 36, Stomach-36’. 

Tai Chong, also known as ‘ LV 3, Liver-3’.

MOXIBUSTION & the 1st Chinese Solar Term

The first Solar term is called ‘Li Chun’, also known as ‘the beginning of Spring’ in English. It occurs on 04/02/2016.

The Yang energy starts to rise more from this Solar term until the Summer Solstice every year. In human body, the Yang energy synchronous rises too. Therefore, It would be good to consider having a session of moxibustion treatment to help general health preservation and also helping some chronic conditions on this particular day or maybe even have a couple of sessions of moxibustion treatments around this period.

For general wellbeing, the following three acupuncture points could be chosen for moxibustion treatments.

1. Qi Hai, also named as ‘ CV 6, Conception Vessel 6, Ren-6, Sea of Qi, Ocean of energy, Dan tian’.

This point stores Yang energy.

Working on this point with moxibustion, it would tonify the Yang energy in the system and help its rising.

2. Qu Chi, also named as ‘Large Intestine Point 11, LI 11’.  

Doing moxibustion treatment on this point, it could help the rising Yang energy and be good for eye sight.

3. Tai Chong, also named as ‘Liver 3, LV 3’.

This point is very important for helping the energy flows well in the Liver Meridians. Having acupressure, acupuncture or/and moxibustion treatment on this point, it should help the Yang energy rise and protect the Liver. This point also has good effects on reducing stress, anger and anxious and helping low moods.

The Chinese 24 Solar Terms

The Chinese 24 Solar terms, also known as the 24 seasonal division points, in the Chinese lunisolar calendar originated in ancient China and then spread to East Asia and South-East Asia. They are calculated from the position of the Sun on the ecliptic, that divides the year into 24 equal periods. Chinese ancestors observed the energy changes in Nature and established this way of seasonal calculation to guide activities in human life, including agricultural affairs, clothing, diet, housing, transportation, health preservation, moods management, etc.. They played a very important role in people’s basic essential needs in life in China in the past and still function well today.

Due to the Earth-Sun distance, the speed of the Sun along the ecliptic varies. The number of days it takes the Sun to travel between every two Solar terms slightly varies as well. For example: the date for the beginning of Spring, the first Solar term of each year, could be on Feb 4 or 5.

Listed below are the names of the 24 Solar terms and very brief explanations of them. 
Please note: The dates and months listed below are based on the Northern Hemisphere. It’s opposite in the Southern Hemisphere. 

The names of the 24 Solar terms show that the division of the seasonal points has totally considered the variation of natural phenomena, climates, phenology, etc.

The 1st Solar term: Li Chun, The beginning of Spring, Feb 3, 4 or 5. 
The Yang energy in Nature starts to rise. A lot of Plants start to sprout.

The 2nd Solar term: Yu Shui, The rain water, Feb 18, 19 or 20.
Rainfall starts to increase.  


The 3rd Solar term: Jing Zhe, The awakening of insects, March 5.
Thunder begins and a lot of insects and hibernating animals start to be active.

The 4th Solar term: Chun Fen, The Spring Equinox, March 20, 21 or 22.
The length of day and night are almost equal.

The 5th Solar term: Qing Ming, The pure brightness, April 4, 5 or 6.
Grass and trees are thriving.

The 6th Solar term: Gu Yu, The grain rains, April 19, 20 or 21.
Crops grow due to plentiful rainfall.

The 7th Solar term: Li Xia, The beginning of Summer, May 5, 6 or 7.
The Yang energy in Nature gets a lot stronger than it is in Spring.

The 8th Solar term: Xiao Man, The lesser fullness of grains, May 20, 21 or 22.
The seed plumpness of the Summer crops starts.

The 9th Solar term: Mang Zhong, The grain in ear, June 5, 6 or 7.
Mount crops such as wheat are mature and to be harvested.

The 10th Solar term: Xia Zhi, The Summer a Solstice, June 21 or 22.
The Yang energy in Nature reaches the peak. The longest daytime and the shortest nighttime of the year.

The 11th Solar term: Xiao shu, The lesser heat, July 6, 7 or 8.
The heat of Summer rises more. 

The 12th Solar term: Da Shu, The greater heat, July 22, 23 or 24.
The hottest period of a year.

The 13th Solar term: Li Qiu, The beginning of Autumn, August 7, 8 or 9.
The leaves of trees starts to fall. The Yang energy in Nature descents.

The 14th Solar term: Chu Shu, The end of heat, August 22, 23 or 24.
The hot Summer ends completely.

The 15th Solar term: Bai Lu, The white dew, September 7, 8 or 9.
The temperature drops sharply enough to reach dew point.

The 16th Solar term: Qiu Fen, The Autumn Equinox, September 22, 23 or 24.
The equal length of day and night.

The 17th Solar term: Han Lu, The cold dew, October 8 or 9.
The weather is cold enough to reach the points between dew and frost.

The 18th Solar term: Shuang Jiang, The frost descent, October 23 or 24.
The frost begins to form.

The 19th Solar term: Li Dong, The start of Winter, November 7or 8.
Winter starts. The Yin energy gets a lot stronger. The coldness is more noticeable than it is in Autumn.

The 20th Solar term: Xiao Xue, The lesser snow, November 22 or 23.
Snow begins to fall. 

The 21th Solar term: Da Xue, The heavier snow, December 6, 7 or 8.
Snow falls heavier and heavier from now on.

The 22th Solar term: Dong Zhi, The Winter Solstice, December 21, 22 or 23.
The Yin energy reaches its peak in a year. The shortest daytime and the longest nighttime of a year.

The 23th Solar term: Xiao Han, The lesser cold, January 5, 6 or 7.
The weather gets cold and freezing.

The 24th Solar term: Da Han, The greater cold, January 20 or 21.
The coldest time of a year.

The dates for the natural phenomena changes in different areas could be slightly different from the ones given above due to different longitude and latitude.