That night, just after 7 p.m., a fierce storm rolled in—howling wind, driving rain, and flashes of lightning. Mr. Huang, who runs the repair shop near my neighborhood, called several times asking me to deliver a set of moxibustion tools plus five boxes of moxa sticks. He wanted to gift them to a friend who, like him, suffers from digestive troubles. He insisted it had to be today, so he kept urging me to bring everything to his shop so his friend could pick it up as soon as he returned. Fine—I promised. Come rain or high water, I’d deliver.
My husband drove us out, and even though we got slightly soaked, my spirits were high.
Why go through all that trouble? Because Mr. Huang truly wants his friend to feel better sooner, to escape those constant stomach woes. In an earlier post I mentioned he’d complained about the smell of the smoke and worried he wouldn’t stick with it. Later, when I asked his advice on a car inspection issue, I reminded him to keep up his own moxibustion practice. He had been doing it, and with my check‑ins he stayed more consistent. Sure enough, two days later he called at night: “My diarrhea’s gotten worse—what’s happening?” After asking about his symptoms, I reassured him it was just the body expelling cold and damp, a normal sign that the moxibustion is working. He relaxed once he heard that—and probably felt more comfortable afterward. The very next day he phoned me again, asking me to bring another set of tools and moxa sticks to his friend, who was now waiting in his office. So right after handling business at his shop, I turned around and brought the supplies back.
When I handed over the moxa sticks and tools, Mr. Huang didn’t even wait for instructions—he immediately began demonstrating to his friend exactly how to use them. As he showed each step, he beamed: “It’s this simple… you just do it like this… stick with it, the aroma’s actually quite nice…” Watching his enthusiasm, I remembered how he’d once described his own chronic aches and the hopeless look on his face—now completely gone! He was vibrant, positive, and full of confidence—a total transformation.
That same evening, the community was conducting a chronic‑illness survey. As I answered their questions, I couldn’t resist talking up moxibustion’s benefits. My husband laughed, “You’re a real‑life Tang Sanzang—you can’t go three sentences without mentioning moxibustion!” Guilty as charged. Promoting moxibustion is both my profession and my passion. When you’ve personally experienced its power, there’s an unstoppable urge to share it. Many of my customers even buy tools and moxa sticks to gift their own friends—because they know the joy of relief far outweighs the initial cost, and they’re eager to pass that on. Mr. Huang has bought gifts for his friends time and again, explaining everything from his heart. I deeply understand that heartfelt desire to help someone feel well.
If it takes braving storms or driving long distances, I’ll always deliver. After all, seeing him so animated and hopeful—that’s worth every drop of rain.