Fire therapy, huǒ liáo, is a Chinese and Tibetan folk medicine that helps regulate the balance of cold-hot temperatures in the body. Like Moxa, it is a heating method, yet it is used to heat large areas on the body rather than individual points. It relieves areas affected by joint and muscular pain, reduces stress and helps in weight loss.
According to Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, author of Real Cause, Real Cure, (Rodale Books, 2012), “…one explanation [for using fire] is that extreme heat triggers an adrenaline response, which can shift your body’s chemistry, improving some symptoms like indigestion and slow metabolism.”
The procedure is to isolate the skin with a warm wet and wrung towel. A solution of isopropyl alcohol diluted with water is lightly spread over the desired area and then ignited for a series of seconds or until the patient is ready, subsequently it is put out with another warm wet towel. The procedure is repeated until the desired heat fills the body. I use is to heat large areas of the body to bring internal heat to the body, to heal muscular pain or contractures in the back and I use it as a compliment to the massage therapies I offer.