Moxibustion (Moxa)

Moxibustion is an ancient oriental healing technique which involves burning the herb Mugwort to stimulate, energize and focus healing energy into specific acupuncture points.

Part of the reason moxibustion works so well for pain is that it increases blood flow to the painful area, which acts as an analgesic and promotes prompt healing. It is especially effective in chronic pain where incredible results are seen.

Moxibustion is used to gently warm acupuncture points in order to strengthen the whole organism, or painful areas to heal pain. Moxa, an herbal substance derived from the mugwort plant, is lit and burnt on or above the skin, which results in a pleasant warmth that deeply penetrates the tissue.

Moxibustion Benefits

•    Strengthening the Immune System
•    Increases red and white cell counts
•    Stimulates hormonal production
•    Improves blood circulation
•    Invigorate qi flow (life force healing energy)
•    Anti-inflammatory
•    Analgesic

Conditions that Benefit

•    Muscle Pain
•    Muscle Weakness
•    Chronic Pain
•    Fatigue
•    Anemia
•    Rheumatic Pain
•    Arthritis
•    Fertility, Infertility
•    Labor, Breech Baby
•    Asthma
•    Diarrhea
•    Vomiting, Abdominal Pain
•    Chemotherapy patients
•    Gynecological Disorders

What does Moxibustion do?

Moxa supplements the force that, on the micro level, makes activity happen in our bodies, and on the macro level makes us feel vital. Moxa also warms meridians and expels cold. Moxa at specific places on the body is said to prevent disease.

What is Moxibustion?

Moxibustion, often shortened to just "Moxa," is a therapy utilizing the mugwort herb. Mugwort is aged and then ground into a fluff, then put into a stick that resembles a cigar. The herb has energetic healing properties.

Moxibustion Application

Your Acupuncturist will burn the Moxa cigar and hold it near to, but not touching Acupuncture points.  Heat and energy from the smoke are transferred indirectly into to points. The skin will absorb the “essence” of this herb, which is highly beneficial.

How does Moxibustion work?

A recent paper by Chinese researchers hypothesizes that moxa works because the mugwort plant, when burning, emits infrared radiation at specific frequencies.  (Other plants, when burned, don’t emit infrared radiation in those healing frequencies.

Immune System Moxa

The meridian point at the bellybutton is Spirit Gate, a sacred place. The navel is the place of most intimate connection with our mothers. When we leave the womb, it is the umbilicus that must be severed if we are to begin making our way on the path to becoming ourselves. We are what is left of the umbilical cord, so powerful is the connection established in gestation. Only moxibustion is used at this point, not acupuncture. The Immune System is stimulated here and in other acupuncture points.

Fertility Moxibustion

Salt moxa, applied at the navel, is a common aspect of treatment for infertility in women. Your acupuncturist fills the navel with salt, which transmits the heat while protecting the skin, and then ignites tiny cones of moxa until heat suffuses the abdomen.

Pregnancy – Breech Babies Moxibustion

There is scientific evidence to support the use of Moxa to turn breech babies.

Moxibustion Ancient Times

Moxibustion is linked to acupuncture from ancient times; in fact, the Chinese character for acupuncture stands for acupuncture and moxibustion combined. In days when people lived in much closer contact with the elements, warming an acupuncture point or meridian on a winter's night made practical sense. There may not have been much fuel to warm the entire family, or even the entire body, so providing warmth to critical points or areas may have felt as important to the ancients as a flu shot feels to some people today.

Longevity, Health Preservation Moxibustion

The Chinese have been researching various anti-aging and life-extension strategies for several millennia. One of the most enduring methods that is still agreed upon today throughout various Asian cultures is moxibustion at several points on the body. These practices have been in place since 220 AD in China.

Immortality Moxibustion

Moxibustion on the leg at Zusanli can lead to immortality. One famous doctor of ages past lived to be 97 reputedly by applying moxa to his leg during the first eight days of each month.