Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves
the burning of mugwort, a small, spongy herb, to facilitate healing. Moxibustion
has been used throughout Asia for thousands of years; in fact, the actual
Chinese character for acupuncture, translated literally, means "acupuncture-moxibustion."
The purpose of moxibustion, as with most forms of traditional Chinese
medicine, is to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of qi,
and maintain general health.
How does moxibustion work? Does it hurt?
There are two types of moxibustion: direct and indirect. In direct moxibustion, a small,
cone-shaped amount of moxa is placed on top of an acupuncture point and burned. This type of moxibustion is
further categorized into two types: scarring and non-scarring. With scarring moxibustion, the moxa is placed
on a point, ignited, and allowed to remain onto the point until it burns out completely. This may lead
to localized scarring, blisters and scarring after healing. With non-scarring moxibustion, the moxa
is placed on the point and lit, but is extinguished or removed before it burns the skin. The patient
will experience a pleasant heating sensation that penetrates deep into the skin, but should not experience
any pain, blistering or scarring unless the moxa is left in place for too long.
Indirect
moxibustion is currently the more popular form of care because there is
a much lower risk of pain or burning. In indirect moxibustion, a practitioner
lights one end of a moxa stick, roughly the shape and size of a cigar,
and holds it close to the area being treated for several minutes until
the area turns red. Another form of indirect moxibustion uses both acupuncture
needles and moxa. A needle is inserted into an acupoint and retained.
The tip of the needle is then wrapped in moxa and ignited, generating
heat to the point and the surrounding area. After the desired effect is
achieved, the moxa is extinguished and the needle(s) removed.
What is moxibustion used for?
In traditional Chinese medicine, moxibustion is used on people who have a cold or stagnant condition.
The burning of moxa is believed to expel cold and warm the meridians, which leads to smoother flow
of blood and qi. In Western medicine, moxibustion has successfully been used to turn breech babies into
a normal head-down position prior to childbirth. A landmark study published in the
Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that up to 75% of women suffering from breech presentations
before childbirth had fetuses that rotated to the normal position after receiving moxibustion at an
acupuncture point on the Bladder meridian. Other studies have shown that moxibustion increases the movement of
the fetus in pregnant women, and may reduce the symptoms of menstrual cramps when used in conjunction
with traditional acupuncture.
Why do acupuncturists use mugwort? Why not use some other herb?
Mugwort, also known as artemesia vulgaris or ai ye in Chinese, has a long history of use in folk medicine. Research has
shown that it acts as an emmenagogue that is, an agent that increases blood circulation to the pelvic
area and uterus and stimulates menstruation. This could explain its use in treating breech births
and menstrual cramps.
Are there any precautions I should be aware of?
Although moxibustion has been safely used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, it is not
for everyone. Because it is used specifically for patients suffering from cold or stagnant constitutions,
it should not be used on anyone diagnosed with too much heat. Burning moxa also produces a great deal
of smoke and a pungent odor. Patients with respiratory problems may request that their practitioner
use smokeless moxa sticks as an alternative.
How do I find an acupuncturist who practices moxibustion in my area?
Moxibustion is usually taught as part of a qualified acupuncture or traditional Chinese medicine
degree program. Although there are no licensing or accreditation requirements associated with the practice
of moxibustion, in the United States, a practitioner must have an acupuncture license to be allowed
to perform moxibustion.
For more information on finding a practitioner who used moxibustion, contact your state
acupuncture association or licensing board.
