Figuratively, to scold, chastise, or give someone a lesson (an idiom meaning to reprimand or teach someone a hard lesson).
遅刻が続く部下に、上司はきつくお灸をすえた。
The boss gave a stern reprimand to the subordinate who kept being late.
悪質な取引先には会社がしっかりお灸をすえるべきだ。
The company should firmly put such a bad business partner in their place.
子どものいたずらには時に親が軽くお灸をすえる必要がある。
Sometimes parents need to give a mild reprimand for a child's misbehavior.
The original literal meaning: to apply moxibustion (placing burning moxa on the skin) as a traditional medical treatment.
肩こりがひどくて、鍼灸院でお灸を据えてもらった。
My shoulder stiffness was bad, so I had moxibustion at the acupuncture clinic.
お年寄りの腰痛には、昔からお灸を据える療法が用いられてきた。
For elderly people's back pain, the moxibustion method has long been used.