中医治病有三大法宝, “一碗汤, 一根针, 一柱艾”。汤就是方剂汤药，针是使用银针刺入腧穴，而艾是指灸法。其中，针法在国际上是最被为广泛接受。可是一提到治疗效果, 中医四大经典之首,《黄帝内经》的《灵枢·官能第七十三》指出“针所不为，灸之所宜”，《医学入门》亦说：“药之不及，针之不到，必须灸之。《扁鹊心书》曰:“保命之法, 灼艾第一”。被誉为神医的华佗，给患者治疗疾病时就多采用灸法。他一般选用一两个穴位，每个穴位灸七、八个艾柱，病就能当场痊愈。这意味着，灸法治疗能力比针法和汤剂更有利，通过医院和研究中心的临床研究比较也证实如此。 然而,当今在中医药临床中,灸法却不被重视,重针轻灸或重药轻灸的现象较为普遍。

The three magnificent instruments used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) applications for disease treatment are herbal decoction, acupuncture, and moxibustion. Decoction are essences being extracted from herbal ingredients by boiling with water, acupuncture is insertion of needles into the skin where specific acupoints are located, and moxibustion is by igniting herbal preparations then apply the heat that generated from it on acupoints or meridians in order to stimulate and regulate the body systems. Among these, acupuncture is the most popular and widely accepted internationally in contrast to what is supposed to be in terms of treatment efficacy, which is moxibsution as indicated in chapter 73 of 《Miraculous Pivot》, 2nd volume of the most famous Chinese medical book called “Huangdi Neijing”, also known as 《Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor》mentioned, “A disease that cannot be cured by acupuncture must be treated with moxibustion”..《The Fundamental Medicine》has also noted: “When decocted soup and acupuncture become ineffective, moxibustion must be applied”. 《The Book By Legendary Doctor Bian Que 》stated: "In order to save life, moxibustion is first in line". Legendary physician Hua Tou who was credited with incredible healing ability treated his patients more often by executing moxibustion application on one or two selected acupoints only. Seven to eight moxa cones were applied on each acupoint in which patients will be able to get healed right on the spot. These mean and signify moxibustion treatment ability is still more powerful than applying acupuncture and herbal decoction, and this has been proven clinically through science- based comparative studies performed in hospitals and research institutions. But sad to say, the importance of prioritizing moxibustion practice is not seriously considered nowadays .The phenomenon of giving more important to acupuncture and herbal decoction is still more common and not moxibustinon generally in traditional Chinese medicine practice today.

在中国医学史上，古人在治疗疑难杂症时, 主要采用灸疗为主，针、汤为辅, 以达到最佳的疗效。灸疗不仅历史悠久，而且疗效显著，可广泛治疗内、外、妇、儿、五官等各科疾病，对各种急性病、慢性病、常见病、疑难病均可施治。如今灸法就能掌握治疗至少200多种疾病。

In the history of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), moxibustion was often used as the main source of treatment method for majority of diseases that are difficult to treat and was often supplemented in combination with acupuncture and, or decoction to produce synergistic treatment effect. Its history has long existed with remarkable curative effect. It treats a wide range of conditions, such as in internal and external medicines; obstetrics and gynecology; pediatrics; EENT and stomatology, and etc., whether in acute or chronic stages, common diseases, and even severe cases may be attended. Today, moxibustion can be used to treat and control at least 200 diseases.

灸法是一种古老的防治疾病方法，主要是运用艾叶提纯出艾绒作为原材料（也可加配其它草药成份）, 制成艾柱或艾条, 在身体特定的穴位, 经络, 或病变部位烧灼、温熨,以药性的温热刺激机体的经络、腧穴，以推动与疏通经络气血，调整及平衡脏腑阴阳，从而达到防治疾病的目的。灸法的起源相信早于针疗, 产生于中国远古时代, 人类早就发现了火的热量可以对疾病产生疗效。但如今，这种医学对很多人仍然还是一个带有神秘的面纱，被许多人所忽视。真正了解中医灸法内涵的人, 可以说微乎其微。甚至有不少中医从业者已走偏了针灸之正道， 乱编虚传, 产生很多误区。根据一些国外学者和评论家, 背后的主要原因，是有关灸法的书籍甚少，中医从业者本身对艾灸的知识了解有缺, 所受过的灸法培训深造也很有限, 操作也很不方便,因此产生困惑。

Moxibustion is an ancient method of healing diseases by igniting herbal preparation called “Artemisia Argyi” (could also mix in combination with other herbal ingredients), and then applies the heat produces from it on specific acupoints , meridians or affected areas in order to stimulate and regulate the body systems. It is believed that moxibustion treatment predates acupuncture, as early as man discovered heat from fire could have a curative effect on diseases. But the real situation today is this ancient medicine is still mysterious and being neglected by many. Those who truly understood and have enough knowledge of it is so minimal, unless specially trained in this application. Even there are practitioners of TCM are misleading others and have deviated from the right path. The reasons behind according to some foreign commentators are practitioners of TCM usually receive limited training in moxibustion therapy, books about moxibustion are few, and the actual experience of utilizing moxibustion is very inconvenient and often confusing.

中医所有的疗法都是建立在中医的基础理论,主要包括阴阳、五行、运气、臓象、经络等学说，以及病因、病机、诊法、辨证、治则治法、预防、养生等内容。中医认为“经络是运行气血的通道”，任何的组织均需要经络供给气血才能保持正常的生理状态。特别针灸医师必须对经络及其穴位的病理关系要有透彻的了解。操作针法的医师并非认为把针扎到穴位就可治病完事, 必须备有一定的劲力进针才能产生好的治疗效果。而开方剂汤药必须对中草药有深入了解及其配方的具体特点、规律和用法,以增进药物的作用和疗效。

All TCM therapies are basically based on the same fundamental traditional Chinese medicine principles and theories, such as the yin and yang concept; five elements; concept of Qi; zhang fu organs; meridians and etc, also the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis methods, syndrome differentiation, treatment objectives and methods, prevention, and also healthcare as well. TCM believes that our body is made up of a complex network of systems which are connected by pathways called meridians and collaterals and these are where Qi (vital energy, also known as life force) and blood circulate, and any tissue needs meridians to supply blood in order to maintain a normal physiological state or we called it homeostasis. For those who perform acupuncture and moxibustion, must have a thorough understanding of the pathological relationship in the theory of meridians and collaterals and its acupoints. Acupuncturist who practices needling must be equipped with essential strength and skill in inserting the needles in order to produce favorable therapeutic effect, not just simply by sticking needles into the acupuncture points and that is all. While those who prescribe herbal decoction, must have an in-depth knowledge of the specific characteristics and usage of herbs and its formulation to optimize its treatment effect.

虽然中医有很多有效的治疗方法，但使用单一方法会使疗效受到限制。我们(导师前辈们和本人)在临床上都发现，通过采用中医综合性的治疗方法, 特别是在治疗病情严重的患者更为合适，能迅速的帮助患者从根本上得到恢复。 因此, 唐代药王孙思邈在《备急千金要方》提到：“若针而不灸，灸而不针，皆非良医也；针灸而不药，药而不针灸，尤非良医也”。王焘，唐代医学家,著有《外台秘要》曰: “故汤药攻其内, 以灸攻其外, 则病无所逃, 方知火艾之功, 过半于汤药矣, 此之一法, 医之大法, 宜深体之, 要中之要, 无过此术”. 明代御医杨继洲，著《针灸大成》也认为“针、灸、药者,医家之不可缺一者也”。。

Although TCM has many effective treatment methods, but using single method will make the role more restricted. My predecessors and I clinically have experienced and found it more appropriate specifically to treat patients with severe conditions by applying comprehensive TCM treatment methods in order to facilitate in helping the patients to recover from their diseases radically. That is why, famous Doctor Son SiMiao, who was titled as “King of Medicine” in his book called 《Essential Golden Prescriptions for Urgencies》 indicated: "If only execute acupuncture and does not incorporate moxibustion, or moxibustion without acupuncture, then not considered as a highly skilled doctor. Also, one applies acupuncture and moxibustion then without herbal preparation, or herbal decoction without acupuncture and moxibustion, neither qualified as a high caliber practitioner”. Wang Bin (Tang Dynasty) in his book called 《The Secret of High Valued External Formulas》written: “Hence, the disease has no place to escape, if we attack it internally with decocted soup and externally by applying moxibustion. We know the power of fire (moxibustion) and its ability excels far more than that of decocted soup. It is important and should be understood deeply that this is the best method in medication with comparative advantage”. Yang JiZhou, a royal doctor during Ming Dynasty in his book called 《Acupuncture and Moxibustion Great Achievements》, also pointed out “As a medical practitioner, acupuncture; moxibustion, and herbal decoction are indispensable”.