Moxibustion is the burning of “Moxa,” Ai-ye, a mugwort whose latin moniker is Artemesia Argyi. This bitter aromatic warm herb is a perennial in the aster family. When dried and rubbed between the palms the skin separates from the veins and forms a wooly substance that can be compressed into cones or rolled into a stick wrapped in paper for ease of storage and use.
Moxibustion originated in Asia long long ago. The first historical mention of its medical use dates back 2,500 years by Zuo Zhuan during pre- Qin dynasty era. It is likely that moxa predates acupuncture and that its use led to the mapping and understanding of channels and acupuncture neurovascular nodes or points.
(photo creds: looksantiago.cl)
When the moxa is burning it emits heat and smoke. The heat helps the herbal components and products of combustion penetrate the skin and improves circulation to the site, moving Qi along the channel, reducing inflammation, alleviating pain and speeding healing. Moxa can activate the potential of an acupoint to combine its effect with that of the point.
At Jade we teach parents how to apply moxibustion to encourage a breech baby to turn for safe delivery. Postnatally we may use moxibustion to “Warm the Mother” helping recover from the birthing process. We use moxibustion to relieve pain in the joints, neck and back. We may use it to strengthen the immune system or energize the body. Acupuncturists can use it in place of needles when indicated. Different materials may be placed between the moxa and the skin to employ the benefits of that material. Different herbs may be incorporated into the moxibustion formula to add their benefits.
In the office we often use smokeless moxa which has been carbonized to reduce the amount of smoke produced. The smoke has been shown to produce calming, antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties, but over exposure such as smoking the herb in place of tobacco or cannabis may have carcinogenic effects and is not a traditional use.