Every year, I teach brand new group of students on the first day of class. To begin, I start by telling them what they will be learning. Everyone knows they are there to learn Chinese medicine. Afterwards, when I’ve named all therapies that will be covered, I always get asked the same 2 questions: “What is Tui Na?” and “What is Moxibustion?”

Today, most people know of acupuncture. Particularly, some people are even familiar with herbal medicine, nutrition and Eastern Food Cures. Let’s not forget Cupping–it’s now often making the news! , not many know about Moxa Therapy, or even Tui Na (which by the way, Shiatsu is derived from). I love both these two less talked about modalities of Chinese medicine.

When I teach Moxibustion, the classroom becomes quite smelly & smoky. Of course, I have over 30 students practicing different forms of moxa! Often other people in the college will comment and ask if we’re smoking pot 😊

I hope you enjoy and benefit from this post and remember, keep rocking it using TCM!

Clara
TCM Geek

PS: Check out my post All About Cupping 

Moxibustion

Moxa Therapy is a Chinese medicine modality which consists of burning dried mugwort (Artemisia) on acupuncture points. Moreover, it may also be applied to an area of the body to bring blood flow and warmth. Generally, Indirect moxa is mostly used in the West. Moxa does not touch the skin nor burn it. Additionally, Direct moxa can be applied as a non scarring treatment. Or, if the licensing country allows it, a scarring one.

The most common Moxa Forms are cones, sticks, rolls, and boxes. The downside of moxa is the smell and the smoke. Unfortunately, it can sometimes give practitioners a headache! Fortunately, smokeless moxa is available for people who are sensitive and for practitioners without windows in their clinic.

In a nutshell, the length of treatment varies. Commonly from 3 to 15 minutes depending on the desired effect.

Moxa Cones

Moxa cones are formed with dry mugwort, which almost looks like wool. Cones are shaped into a pyramid shape and placed over the following specific foods.

A thin slice of ginger punctured with small holes. Then rested on an acupuncture point. Secondly, the cone is rested on top and lit. This method will expel external pathogens cold, wind and damp. It will regulate Wei Qi & Ying Qi.

Moxa Cones with Ginger are great for acute vomiting and nausea, diarrhea, or the common cold. Overall, the best points for Ginger Moxa are Ren 12, Ren 6, Sp 9 and St 36.

First, fill the patient’s belly button filled with salt. Second, place the moxa cone on top of the salt. Then light the moxa. This helps Kd Yang deficiency. However, this method can be challenging if your patient has a protrusion.

As a whole, the best point for salt moxa is Ren 8.

Spread Garlic paste on an acupuncture point.

This will disperse accumulation and draw pus. Great for pyogenic infections!

Moxa Rolls

Tightly wrapped dried mugwort pressed together into a roll. They rest on skin on top of a support. Additionally, rolls added with needles. Once lit, the needle becomes a heat conductor.

Moxa Sticks

Tightly wrapped dried mugwort pressed together into a stick resembling a long cigar. Usually moved around an acupuncture point about 1/2 inch to 1 inch away from the skin. Moxa sticks can be mobile, movement following a circle or back and forth motion. Alternatively, the sticks can stay in one place for one minute.

Moxa Boxes

Moxa boxes, made of metal or wood, hold moxa wool inside. The box allows coverage over a large area. Some patients who are afraid of the cones, rolls or sticks, may prefer the safety of the boxes.

Moxibustion common indications

• Arthritic pain, joint pain, Raynaud’s disease, sciatica, low back pain, pain along the meridians, Bi syndrome, wind-damp-cold.
• Yang deficiency (Ren 4, Du 4, kd 6, Kd 3), infertility, cold diarrhea (Sp 9, St 25, Ren 8), fatigue (Sp 6, St 36), incontinence (Sp 6, Kd 4, kd 6).
• Dysmenorrhea (Sp 8, St 29, Ren 4), abnormal uterine bleeding, prolapse (Ren 6, Sp 6), breech baby (UB 67).
• Scattered brain (Apply on Kd 1 to ground the patient).

Moxa for Breach Baby Protocol

Precautions

• Never leave your patient alone during moxibustion.
• Children should NOT get moxibustion.
• People with high fever, excess heat, yin deficiency, or high blood pressure, should not receive Moxa therapy.
• Never use moxa on the abdomen or lumbar-sacral area of a pregnant woman.