MOXIBUSTION THERAPY
The Healing power of moxa
Moxibustion has been used throughout Asia for thousands of years; in fact, the actual Chinese character for acupuncture, translated literally, means "acupuncture-moxibustion” and ancient doctors held it in high regard. In the Nei Jing—a fundamental text in Chinese medicine—moxa is said to “do what the needle cannot.”
Moxibustion, used alone or in combination with acupuncture, can be used to prevent diseases and maintain health by strengthening the organ function and immune system. This focused heat therapy traditionally involves the burning of the herb Artemesia Vulgaris (Mugwort) over specific acupuncture points to positively stimulate the body in a variety of ways.
Though moxibustion therapy in modern research is not as extensive as acupuncture, the available literature shows positive effects on the blood, immunity, and the regeneration of tissue. A 1998 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 75 percent of pregnant women had their breech fetuses turn to the normal position with moxibustion burned on an acupuncture point located on the pinky toe.
Our clinic is in a multi-disciplinary medical building with minimal to no-scent policy, so we use direct rice grain moxa, smokeless moxa, moxa laser, or magnetic heat lamps when the treatment requires it. With proper instructions and guidance, we would occasionally recommend patients to use moxibustion at home as part of their self-care routine.
Resources
The Mechanism of Moxibustion: Ancient Theory and Modern Research