Moxibustion

 

What is moxibustion?

Moxibustion is a form of heat therapy in which dried plant materials called "moxa" are burned on or very near the surface of the skin. The intention is to warm and invigorate the flow of Qi and blood in the body and dispel certain pathogenic influences.

Moxa is usually made from the dried leafy material of Chinese mugwort (Artemesia argyi or A.vlugaris), but it can be made of other substances for example, charcoal which is a smokeless alternative. There are different grades of moxa that are used depending on application required.

 

What exactly does the practitioner do?

There are several ways that moxa can be applied and used. For example direct rice grain moxa, cone moxa, moxa placed on top of an inserted needle, moxa placed in various warmers to platform moxa using ginger and salt; all of which are safely placed near or on the surface of the body.

For example, a burning moxa stick close to, but not touching, the surface of the skin can be used.

In this method, the moxa material is compressed into a stick or pole, looking not unlike an oversized cigar that can be lit and allowed to smolder, producing a unique form of very penetrating heat.

The smoldering moxa stick is held over specific areas, often, though not always, corresponding to certain acupuncture points. The glowing end of the moxa stick is held about 10cm above the surface of the skin until the area reddens and becomes suffused with warmth.

 

What can I expect to feel?

It is not uncommon for patients receiving moxibustion to report a sudden flooding of warmth that quickly radiates along a specific pathway (usually corresponding with the channel that is being treated) away from the site of application. This is a good result, as it indicates the arrival of the Qi and Xue (blood), and signals that the flow of Qi and Xue has been freed in the channel.