| Supplementary therapeutic measures In addition to acupuncture, Chinese medicine also turns to other traditional and modern forms of therapy to serve the same therapeutic goal of restoring energy balance. All these methods have one thing in common: the specific stimulation of acupuncture points. The most important of these methods are: moxibustion, cupping, acupressure and electrostimulation. Moxibustion As is acupuncture, moxibustion is rooted in the ancient tradition of Eastern Asia. The term comes from the Japanese word moegusa, which means "burning herb," and describes the stimulation of particular acupuncture points through heat. The raw material used for this is dried mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), which releases its healing powers when burned. A differentiation is made between direct and indirect moxibustion. In direct moxibustion, the "burning herbs" are applied directly to the skin. This form of therapy is rarely used in the West, as it is painful and may cause blistering. With indirect moxibustion, a slice of ginger or garlic, approximately 2 mm thick, is used to insulate the skin from the moxa cone. A variation of this is warm needle stimulation, using acupuncture needles. Once a needle is positioned, it is heated, radiating warmth directly to the acupuncture point. The main areas of application for both techniques are chronic illnesses such as asthma, depression and exhaustion. Cupping Also rooted in ancient Eastern Asian tradition, cupping involves placing heated glass cups onto acupuncture points. During cooling, a vacuum is created in the glass. This has a sucking effect on the treated skin. The resulting tautness has healing effects. Cupping is mainly used for treating acute illnesses (asthma, bronchitis) as well as muscle pain, generally in combination with classic acupuncture. Acupressur Acupressure refers to targeted stimulation of acupuncture points through pressing or rubbing with the fingertips. Disorders of slight to medium severity, such as headaches or toothaches, can often be relieved with this method. Acupressure is excellent for self-treatment, especially for specifically supporting a needle therapy, as it is not as intensive in its effect. However, before administering acupressure you should have sufficient background knowledge, as stimulating the wrong point can be counterproductive. Electrostimulation The stimulation of acupuncture points with low voltage electrical current can lead to pain-relieving impulses being sent out over a long period of time. That is why electrostimulation has become well established in acupuncture anesthesia and in the treatment of severe chronic pain. However, it is not suitable in all cases. Special care must be taken especially in patients with pacemakers as well as shock conditions, pregnancy, epilepsy and fever.