A-B-C Acupuncture Clinic

Moxibustion is an oriental medicine therapy utilizing moxa, or mugwort herb. It plays an important role in the traditional medical systems of China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Tibet, and Mongolia. Suppliers usually age the mugwort and grind it up to a fluff; practitioners burn the fluff or process it further into a stick that resembles a (non-smokable) cigar. They can use it indirectly, with acupuncture needles, or sometimes burn it on a patient's skin.

Indirect Moxa

With Indirect Moxa something is placed between the burning Moxa and the skin. This is less painful and reduces the risk of infection. This is the method preferred by modern practitioners. Some common substances used are slices of Ginger, Garlic, Salt, Aconite, Pepper, and mud. The use of pre-formed cones favoured at Compassionate Dragon is a form of Indirect Moxa.

Moxa Sticks

The Moxa Stick or Roll was developed in the Ming Dynasty as a convenient, less time consuming and easily controlled method of applying Moxa. The Moxa wool is wrapped tightly in paper like a cigar. Sometimes the powder of other herbals is mixed in. The most common recipe is 24 grams of Moxa Wool and 6 grams each of Cinnamon, Cloves, Sichuan Pepper, Realgur, Saussurea, Angelica, Asarum, Atractylodes, Myrrh and Frankincense.

The Moxa Stick is lit at one end and held about 1 inch from the skin, the distance varying with the tolerance of the patient and the degree of stimulation required. Normally the stick is burned for up to 15 minutes or until the skin around the area is bright red. This method is used for pain due to obstruction (Arthritic type pain). The two main methods are spiraling, which is waving the stick in a circular motion over the area or point. The other method is called Sparrow Pecking in which the pecking motion of a bird is simulated.

Contraindications

Moxibustion is contraindicated with Febrile Diseases (where a fever is present), since it is unwise to add heat to an already overheated body, on the back or lower abdomen of pregnant women as heat may injure the fetus. Moxa is not to be burned in the vicinity of sensory organs such as the eyes, mouth or mucous membranes, nose or anus. Direct Moxa should not be used on the face, breast, where large blood vessels are located or on major creases such as the elbows and knees. Care must also be exercised when burning Moxa on areas of numbness or when the patient is unconscious.