Moxibustion
and Traditional Chinese Medicine
You may have wondered about 'that
strange smell' when you passed by an acupuncturist's
clinic. Moxibustion, or moxa for short, is the
process of burning the dried herb artemesia
vulgaris, over acupuncture points or on certain
areas of the body. It is a form of heat therapy that
treats and prevents diseases. It is usually burned
either just above the skin or directly on the skin
placed on an insulating material.
Moxibustion and acupuncture have been used
together for centuries. In the Chinese Miraculous Pivot it
states, "A disease that may not be treated by acupuncture
may be treated by moxibustion". The connective tissue of the
skin has semi-conductive properties. If heat is applied to
the skin, minute electric currents can be generated.
Therefore, moxibustion has as much potential to generate
electric currents as those generated by needle insertion,
with the added benefit of heat.
THE PROPERTIES OF MOXA (artemisia
vulagaris)
Moxa is a bitter and acrid herb. Burning the herb produces
mild to strong heat, which is able to penetrate deeply into
the muscles and acupuncture meridians. In Japan, many herbs
were burned on the surface of a watermelon. The melon was
then cracked open to determine how deeply the heat
penetrated. Artemisia was the only herb that left a heat
trail deep into the core of the fruit. The acrid odor of the
leaf travels through the meridians to regulate qi and blood,
and to expel cold from the channels.
Pathologies related to 'cold' are those such
as the common cold, some types of back pain, abdominal
pain/diarrhea and muscle spasm and tightness. The bitter
nature of the herb resolves 'dampness'. Some signs of
dampness in the body presents as urinary problems, phlegm in
the lungs, poor digestion, swellings and lumps in the skin,
and arthritis.
THE FUNCTION OF MOXA
Cold, heat or injury usually causes the abnormal flow of
qi (energy) through the body. Warming the qi restores its
flow and activates blood circulation. Consequently, warming
the qi with moxibustion restores homeostasis by dispelling
cold or heat. Warming the skin to the point of redness also
initiates an anti-inflammatory response. The chemical
mediators of inflammation, namely, white blood cells,
endorphins, histamine, etc.…flood the area, toxins are
dissolved and the healing response is triggered.
TREATMENT WITH MOXIBUSTION
Moxa comes in several forms. Most commonly used are the
moxa stick, (which resembles a cigar), cones of the
compressed herb or moxa wool. The moxa stick is held several
inches above the skin. As it smolders, the charcoal's red
tip produces a diffuse heat that reddens the skin. This
indirect warming is maintained for about ten minutes. Moxa
wool can be rolled and burned on the top of an acupuncture
needle sending warmth deep into the channel. Moxa wool and
cones are also placed on an insulating material such as a
bed of salt or a piece of ginger. It is then put on the skin
and burned. This procedure involves burning numerous
consecutive cones until a moderate amount of heat is felt.
With cases involving diarrhea, abdominal pain or vomiting,
the salt is poured into the umbilicus. Several cones are
then burned on the salt.
 One of the most interesting and successful
uses of moxibustion is in the treatment of breech
presentation in pregnancy. Very short and tiny strings of
moxa (called "rice grain") are burned at the outside corner
of the small toe.
As with all moxibustion techniques, extreme
caution should be used. Improper use can cause burns and bad
results. The abdominal and lumbosacral region of pregnant
women is contraindicated.
To learn more about our Facial
Rejuvenation Acupuncture therapy treatments,
contact us.
Seattle Health Therapies
Acupuncture
and
Energy Medicine Solutions
1411 Fourth Avenue, Suite #1322
Seattle, Washington, 98101
USA Tel: (206)
623-1630
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