Prostatitis Pain Relief at Home: Moxibustion and Acupoint Massage Explained

Guys who are troubled by prostatitis surely understand the discomfort of frequent urination, urgent urination, and dull pain in the perineum. Doctors usually emphasize that, in addition to proper treatment, daily care is also very important.

Today, I'd like to share with you two gentle home self-treatments—moxibustion and acupoint massage. Although they cannot replace professional treatment, when used correctly, they can effectively alleviate pain and discomfort, providing your body with a sense of relaxation.

Home Moxibustion Therapy: Find the Right Way to Be Safe

The principle of moxibustion is very simple—it relies on the mild heat generated by the burning of wormwood to stimulate specific acupoints on the body.

When to use moxibustion:

Situations suitable for using moxibustion: Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, usually characterized by mild pain and aching, as well as a feeling of fullness and discomfort, without acute symptoms such as fever, is especially suitable for those with a cold constitution and a persistent feeling of coldness in the lower abdomen.

Conditions for disabling moxibustion: Acute bacterial prostatitis accompanied by high fever and severe pain during urination; skin with wounds or ulcers; people with allergic constitutions who are severely allergic to the smoke from moxa.

Moxibustion at home: Choose the right acupoints and don't take the wrong steps 

Don't look for too complicated acupoints; just remember three commonly used and easy to locate. Choose 1-2 acupoints each time, do moxibustion on each acupoint for 10-15 minutes, do it 2-3 times a week, and stick to it.

Guanyuan Acupoint: Located 3 inches below the navel (approximately the width of your four fingers together). This acupoint can regulate the blood and qi in the lower body region and relieve the feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen.

Qi Hai Acupoint: Located 1.5 inches below the navel, this acupoint is not far from Guanyuan Acupoint. This point can replenish the primordial energy, promote circulation of meridians, and is very helpful for frequent urination and coldness in the lower abdomen.

Sanyinjiao Acupoint: Located on the inner side of the lower leg, 3 cun above the ankle, behind the inner edge of the tibia. This acupoint is commonly used to regulate the urinary and reproductive systems and can relieve the dull pain in the perineum.

The operation steps are also very simple: Prepare the moxa stick and the moxibustion box (for beginners, using the moxibustion box is safer and less likely to cause burns). Light the moxa stick and put it into the moxibustion box, then fix it on the acupuncture point to be treated. 

Keep the distance between the skin and the moxa stick such that it feels warm but not hot. During the moxibustion process, you can gently feel it, and if it feels too hot, move it a little further away.

Safety Tips for Home Moxibustion:

Prevent burns: Especially for those with less sensitive skin, such as people with diabetes, during moxibustion, you must be extra cautious. It's best to have a glass of cold water nearby so that you can deal with any burns promptly.

Pay attention to ventilation: The smoke from the mugwort will have a certain smell. When performing the mugwort therapy, open the windows to let in some fresh air to avoid the smoke from accumulating and irritating the respiratory tract. 

If there are elderly people, children, or pregnant women in the house, it is recommended to conduct the therapy in a separate room. 

Don't get cold after moxibustion: After the moxibustion, the pores of your body are open. Don't immediately turn on the air conditioner or drink cold water. It's best to rest for 15-20 minutes and have a cup of warm water to help your body recover gradually.

How to Perform Acupoint Massage

If you find moxibustion a bit troublesome, then acupoint massage is a more suitable option for daily use. You don't need any tools; your own hands can handle it. The key is to use gentle pressure to stimulate the acupoints and relax the local muscles, which can also relieve pain and discomfort.

Preparations before massage:

Before starting the massage, wash your hands thoroughly and trim your nails short to avoid scratching the skin; you can apply a little hand cream or massage oil on your hands to reduce skin friction. 

During the massage, use gentle pressure, aiming for a sensation of "aching but not painful," and never exert excessive force, as this could actually worsen the discomfort.

Commonly used massage acupoints:

Perineum acupoint: This acupoint is located at the midpoint between the anus and the scrotum. It is a key point for relieving pain caused by prostatitis. When massaging, you can sit down and use the pad of your index finger or middle finger to gently press on the perineum acupoint. 

Gradually increase the pressure from light to heavy and press for 3-5 minutes. Do this 1-2 times a day, and it can directly relieve the distension pain in the perineum area.

The Guanyuan acupoint and Qihai acupoint mentioned earlier: You can also use the massage method. Gently rotate your palm's center on the acupoint in a clockwise direction, and massage each acupoint for 3 to 5 minutes. This can achieve a similar warming and circulation-promoting effect as moxibustion.

Lumbar-sacral area: This is the area where the waist connects to the buttocks. Sometimes the pain of prostatitis can radiate to this region. You can gently massage from the waist down to the buttocks using your palm, repeating this motion 10-15 times. This can relax the muscles in the lumbar-sacral area and relieve the radiating pain.

Contraindications of acupoint massage: 

During the acute prostatitis paroxysm period, the companion has a high fever, makes water when painful acuteness occurs, and does not do the massage. If the feeling is aching to accentuate suddenly when massaging, you want to stop immediately; it is better to wash the perineum with lukewarm water after massaging every time and keep it clean and dry.

Better Results with Combined Home Care and Medication

The treatment of prostatitis emphasizes "addressing both the symptoms and the root cause." Home care techniques such as moxibustion and massage are auxiliary measures to alleviate discomfort, but the main approach should still be to follow the doctor's advice and undergo proper treatment.

For example, for chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, one can take the Chinese patent medicine "Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill." Developed by Dr. Li's clinic, it can clear heat and detoxify, promote urination and relieve dysuria, as well as activate blood circulation and remove stasis. 

It can also help improve uncomfortable symptoms such as frequent urination, urgent urination, and perineal heaviness from the root cause.

And the moxibustion and acupoint massage that we insist on performing can work well in conjunction with the "Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill," enhancing the stability of the therapeutic effect. Besides, a good lifestyle is also indispensable. Here are a few tips for you:

Don't sit for a long time: Stand up and move for 5-10 minutes every hour to avoid long-term pressure on the prostate. 

Drink plenty of water: Drink 1500-2000 ml of warm water every day and urinate more, which can help flush the urethra and reduce bacterial growth. 

Adjust your diet: eat less spicy, cold, and greasy food, and quit smoking and drinking, which can stimulate the prostate and aggravate inflammation.

Work and rest regularly: Don't stay up late, ensure 7-8 hours of sleep every day, and avoid overwork so that the body has enough ability to recover. 

Pelvic floor contraction exercise: Do 3-4 sets of pelvic floor contraction exercises every day. Each set involves contracting the anus 10-15 times. This can enhance the strength of the pelvic floor muscles and improve the blood circulation of the prostate.

Conclusion

Acupuncture and acupoint massage are both relaxing methods that can be easily performed at home. They can alleviate the pain of prostatitis. The key lies in "gentleness" and "consistency." If you feel that your symptoms do not improve or even worsen after trying these methods, you must go to the hospital for a follow-up visit promptly.

Take good care of your body and start with small daily tasks. Gradually, you will notice the changes. I hope that every male suffering from prostatitis can find a suitable way to relieve themselves, experiencing less pain and more comfort.