Acupuncture & Physical Therapy Clinic

Moxabustion

 Introduction

Moxabustion is the process whereby moxa - a dried herb, usually the species mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) - is burned, either directly on the skin or indirectly above the skin, over specific acupuncture points. The mugwort is harvisted in the early part of the summer, and the leaves are dried and allowed to age. It is then crushed and subjected to varying degrees of sifting. The highest-grade moxa almost exclusively consists of the fluffy underside of the leaf.

This high-grade moxa is considered most appropriate for direct application to the skin. The less refined moxa contains a mixture of the fluffy underbelly of the leaf and parts of the leaf body. This lower-grade moxa tends to be used for indirect application.

When lit, moxa burns slowly and provides penetrating heat that can enter the channels to influence the Qi and Blood flow. Moxa burns with a characteristic musky odor and can give off fairly copious amounts of smoke, depending on the grade. Some patients may find the smell and the smoke difficult to tolerate, and the odour tends to be retained in the clothing and hair long after the treatment session. Smokeless moxa is available, but it can be very difficult to light and is not commonly used.

Moxa is also available in a loose form for making moxa cones or wrapping around acupuncture needles. Alternatively, moxa comes packed and rolled in a long stick, about six to eight inches long and between one half and three quarter inch in diameter.

Click on image above to see more detail on 'Moxa methods'...

There are two types of Moxabustion - Direct and Indirect.

Direct Moxabustion is where moxa is formed into small cones that are placed on selected points on the body and then lit. The moxa cone is allowed to burn down until the skin turns red, and then the ash is removed and a new cone lit. The process is repeated until treatment is concluded.

Indirect Moxabustion is where moxa is burned indirectly, either above the skin or on another medium between the moxa and the skin. The substances most commonly used as a medium are:

• salt - placed so that the moxa can burn on the salt layer
• garlic- a slice of garlic, with perforations, is placed on the skin and moxa is burned on this
• ginger - a slice of ginger is used in a similar fashion to garlic.