Moxibustion

Moxibustion is a traditional form of treatment that has been used in China for over two thousand years. Moxibustion was developed before acupuncture, but eventually, the two treatments came to be used in combination. Today, many acupuncturists use moxibustion to some extent, and most moxibustion treatments involve some form of acupuncture.

Moxibustion involves using moxa, or mugwort herb, to treat patients. Mugwort is a small, spongy herb that has been used in folk medicine all over the world for thousands of years. Research has shown that mugwort increases blood circulation and can also stimulate menstruation.

There are two main types of moxibustion used in Chinese medicine: direct moxibustion and indirect moxibustion. With direct moxibustion, a small amount of mugwort is burned directly o­n the skin. The mugwort may either remain o­n the skin until it is completely burned out (which will usually lead to some level of scarring following the treatment) or the mugwort can be lit and then removed before the skin is burnt. Most patients prefer non-scarring moxibustion over scarring moxibustion, because it induces a pleasant heating sensation, and doesn't leave scars. Indirect moxibustion is generally preferred over direct moxibustion, as it does not involve any burning o­n the skin. Instead, in indirect moxibustion, a mugwort stick is lit and held close to the skin, or a needle is wrapped in mugwort, inserted in o­ne of the points of pressure and ignited. This combination of acupuncture and moxibustion has proven the most popular in recent years.

Over the years, this technique has proven effective in treating a variety of diseases and conditions, especially those that are chronic in nature. Moxibustion is highly used in gerontology as a means of treating conditions associated with aging. It also has been successful in easing menstrual cramps and increasing fetus movement in pregnant women.