Moxibustion: What Is It?
A traditional Chinese medicine treatment method called moxibustion acupuncture uses moxa, or burning mugwort, as a therapeutic tool. Moxibustion is used to strengthen the blood, promote Qi (pronounced chee), and preserve overall health. The word “qi” means “life energy.”
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Because moxibustion produces heat, it has several advantages. The ability to raise body temperature is moxibustion’s primary benefit. Individuals who suffer from blood circulation problems, autoimmune disorders, or compromised immune systems are often cold. For these ailments, moxa is an excellent therapeutic due to its warming qualities.
For those whose occupations are known to exacerbate their physical issues, moxibustion treatment is an excellent option. For people suffering from physical problems, the warmth of a moxa may be quite helpful in providing them with much-needed respite.
In addition to increasing blood flow and facilitating easier oxygen delivery to the damaged tissues, muscles, and tendons, this soothing warm sensation also permeates the skin.
Moxibustion Types
One can use moxibustion directly or indirectly. We’ll go over the many forms of moxibustion and your possible experiences with them in the sections that follow.
Straight Moxa:
A tiny quantity of moxa is burned simply and administered directly to certain body acupuncture sites. There is a chance that this operation will leave no scars at all. When scarification is done in conjunction with direct scaritation, the moxibustion is started and allowed to burn out, leaving blisters and scar tissue on the skin that eventually heal.
Moxa is eliminated or put out in a direct, non-scarring manner so as to stop burning the skin. Though some traditional proponents of this therapy think the scarring method is more successful, both approaches provide a healing sensation that extends through the skin.
Direct Moxa:
Since the indirect moxa is safer and simpler to use than the direct approach, it is the more widely used choice. To do this, set a burning moxa stick over the countertop without touching it, and leave it there for a few minutes or until some redness appears.
However, an additional form of the indirect approach involves attaching a moxa stick to an acupuncture needle.
Stick Moxa:
This kind of moxibustion is quite new. To use it on the moxa points, first place a loose moxa on a burnable cardboard strip and fire it.
Moxa Wool:
Once the patient’s belly button has been salted, this is what is done: knead some moxa wool into a cone and place it on top of the salt. The problem’s state differs from the moxa wool’s needle size.
Muggwort: What Is It?
Mugwort, sometimes known as artemisia, is a plant belonging to the Compositae family. It is used to make a variety of foods, including Japanese dessert kusazuke, Korean clam soup Jinchangui Jjimchi, and German Christmas goose Volksgruss.
The main component is mugwort, sometimes known as moxa. Similar to incense, mugwort leaves are dried and crushed into little bits called moxa. These pieces are ignited and applied to the body’s running points to alleviate particular ailments.
Using the 12 primary meridians, moxibustion promotes blood flow and qi circulation, promoting overall health and warding off illness. It may eliminate cold germs and warm cold yang to preserve general health. The idea of yin and yang is balanced in traditional Chinese medicine, but imbalances can lead to illness.
How Does Oxybustion Occur?
Direct moxibustion is the application of moxa to the skin in the form of cones by a medical professional with a license. Indirect moxibustion—in which the burning moxa does not come into contact with your skin—is more common in the US.
The moxa should be positioned one inch away from your skin.
The moxa should be placed on top of the acupuncture needles so that the heat is sent right into the needles by your body.
Place the moxa on top of another healing object, such salt, ginger, or a bamboo moxa box, before applying it to your skin.
How Is Moxibustion Employed?
When the illness is caused by cold pathogens or a qi yang deficit, moxibustion usually helps. This includes:
Pain in the joints.
regurgitation.
organ relapse.
digestive problems.
cramps associated with menstruation.
Both acute and persistent pain
Problems with sleep
Migraines and headaches
Anxiety/Stress
Fertility problems.
Additionally, it is frequently used to correct breech placement, which occurs when a baby is placed within the uterus feet- or bottom-first rather than head-first during pregnancy. Moxibustion has shown to be a successful technique for assisting a baby to turn from being breech without the need for medical intervention.
Are Moxibustion Risks Present?
In Chinese medicine, moxibustion has a long history of usage and is recommended for attested use. However, not everyone uses it well, and there are hazards associated with using it that need to be carefully evaluated. There aren’t any particularly high hazards associated with burning moxa, although direct moxa therapy may result in burns that cause scorching, scarring, and skin discoloration.