Moxibustion

Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the burning of mugwort, a small, spongy herb, to facilitate healing. Moxibustion has been used throughout Asia for thousands of years. The purpose of moxibustion, as in other forms of traditional Chinese medicine, is to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of Qi, and maintain general health.

How Does Moxibustion Work and Does It hurt?

There are two main types of moxibustion: one of which are direct and one which is indirect. There is a third newer method which does not involve any heat source, which we will discuss later. Let’s first present the two methods which involve using a heat source. The first is direct moxibustion. This is where a small, cone-shaped amount of moxa is placed on top of an acupuncture point and burned. The moxa is placed on the point and lit, but it is extinguished or removed before it burns the skin. The patient will experience a pleasant heating sensation that penetrates deep into the skin, but should not experience any pain.

The second method is indirect moxibustion which is the most popular form of moxibustion since nothing actually touches the skin. In indirect moxibustion, a practitioner lights one end of a moxa stick, roughly the shape and size of a cigar, and holds it close to the area being treated for several minutes until the area turns red. Another form of indirect moxibustion uses both acupuncture needles and moxa. A needle is inserted into an acupoint and the tip of the needle is then wrapped in moxa and ignited, generating heat to the point and the surrounding area. After the desired effect is achieved, the moxa is extinguished and the needle(s) are removed.

The third newer method uses moxa spray oil. This product is an ultra pure product of highly refined moxa oil, which is sprayed onto the point. This is extra concentrated product which is made from the highest grade pure moxa. In our experience it is a very effective form of moxa application without any risk of burns and eliminates the burning of traditional Moxa in treatment rooms.

What Is Moxibustion Used For?

Moxibustion is used on people who have a cold or “stagnant” condition. The burning of moxa is believed to expel cold and warm the meridians, which leads to smoother flow of blood and Qi. In Western medicine, moxibustion has successfully been used to turn breech babies into a normal head-down position prior to childbirth. A landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that up to 75% of women suffering from breech presentations before childbirth had fetuses that rotated to the normal position after receiving moxibustion at an acupuncture point on the Bladder meridian.

Other studies have shown that moxibustion increases the movement of the fetus in pregnant women, and may reduce the symptoms of menstrual cramps when used in conjunction with traditional acupuncture. Other applications include conditions such as neck pain, low back pain, headache, anxiety, constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, infertility and sports injuries.

Why Use the Herb Mugwort?

Mugwort, also known as artemesia vulgaris and has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. Research has shown that it acts as an emmenagogue which is an agent which increases blood circulation. When applied to the pelvic region of a woman, it helps stimulate menstruation and helps to reduce menstrual cramps.

What Are The Contraindications?

Although moxibustion has been safely used in for centuries, it is not for everyone. Because it is used specifically for patients suffering from cold or stagnant constitutions, it should not be used on anyone diagnosed with too much heat. Moxa is most appropriate for patients with chronic problems, or conditions of "deficiency” (weakness).

Why do more people have cold constitutions now than in the past?

You would think residing a South Florida that “cold” conditions would not be a problem. Think again. A cold constitution is triggered or aggravated by over cooling of our body systems. This can especially be a problem in South Florida where we are exposed to air conditioning and the consumption of large amounts of ice cold drinks. Due to technological advancement, we are exposing our systems to cold of a much higher magnitude than in the past. Many people are regularly drinking a large amount of icy cold beverages, and consume other frozen treats. Air conditioners certainly make our lives more comfortable all year long, however it causes us to be exposed to “wind cold” year round. Furthermore, it should also be noted that many common pain relieving drugs including common over the counter pain medications are known to decrease body temperature. Other common causes of cold constitution are large consumption of fruits and raw vegetables and ongoing daily stress.

"The ancients said that a man who understands drugs but does not know acupuncture, or one knows acupuncture but does not know moxa, can never make a real physician." (Chin Li-Meng, Chinese Physician, 1447)