Moxibustion, a non-invasive therapeutic alternative to acupuncture

Traditional Chinese medicine is not complete without acupuncture and Moxibustion treatments. TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) heavily relies on the study of acupoints, meridians, collaterals, and acupuncture procedures to treat and prevent disease. For those who want to try acupuncture but do not like needles, the Moxibustion procedure may be helpful. Both treatments make use of acupoints. 

Moxibustion is a kind of heat therapy that produces heat by burning Moxa cones or sticks consisting of crushed mugwort leaves. Then the heat will be applied on or close to acupuncture points and meridians on your body. 

Mugwort plant: what is it?

The plant mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. The root and the portions of the plant that grow above the ground are used to make moxa. Mugwort’s chemical composition has anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, it has a substance called thujone that can stimulate the uterus. People use mugwort for many ailments, including colic in babies, sleeplessness, irregular periods, and anxiety. Moxa can also be infused with different herbs to change their medicinal properties. Some examples include Frankincense, Asarum, Angelica Root, Atractylodes Rhizome, Dried Ginger, Cloves, Sichuan Pepper, Realgar, Asarum, and Angelica Root.  

How does moxibustion treatment dredge meridians?

The Moxibustion technique is used in traditional Chinese medicine to promote the body’s energy flow and remove impurities. Practitioners use Moxibustion either alone or in combination with acupuncture. The cutaneous areas, acupoints, and meridians are all strongly connected to Moxibustion. Qi is referred to as life energy and runs through meridians. The top layer of skin and fascia on our body is covered by twelve major meridians, or energy channels, through which Qi flows.

Ten of these twelve meridians connect to particular organs: one meridian each to the heart, lung, stomach, kidney, large intestine, small intestine, liver, bladder, gallbladder, and spleen. The remaining two meridians are the triple-warmer meridian, which regulates metabolism, and the pericardium meridian, which is linked to emotional and spiritual wellness.

What exactly is Qi?

Our body receives life force from Qi. The vital energy that maintains our health is called life energy (Qi). A steady, uninterrupted flow of Qi throughout your body is the basis for wellness; on the other hand, disruption of this flow—when Qi becomes blocked—can result in sickness. Stress, toxic environments, and heavy workloads can all contribute to an imbalance in your Qi. There are several types of Qi; hereditary and gong qi are two notable types. Gong qi is our daily energy reserve, whereas inherited qi is the energy we are born with. When our gong qi is depleted, our body starts to draw energy from the inherited qi pool to make up for it, which forms the basis for aging. Graying, arthritic disorders like muscle or joint stiffness, and other typical signs of aging appear when our body uses up hereditary qi.

How exactly does moxa therapy work?

Moxibustion can be categorized into direct and indirect depending on whether the moxa cone physically contacts the skin while being applied.

Direct Moxibustion:

In direct moxibustion therapy, Moxa cones are burned at acupuncture points on the skin. The moxa cone is put on a thin layer of protective cream, lit with an incense stick, and snuffed. People who undergo direct-moxibustion treatment feel a warming sensation at the location, where sometimes they also experience a slight stinging sensation.

Direct Moxibustion therapy has two types: scarring and non-scarring. In scarring moxibustion, the acupuncture point is heated with a Moxa cone until it almost burns out. Moxibustion without scarring involves igniting the Moxa cone on the spot and removing it before it burns. 

Indirect Moxibustion:

During indirect Moxibustion therapy, the moxa cones are not burned directly on the skin. Practitioners will use the following methods:

• Waving or holding a burning moxa stick over an acupoint for a while or until the area becomes pinkish.
• By lighting the Moxa cone and compressing it into a rod, and holding it close to the skin
• Putting a Moxa cone on the tips of acupuncture needles and placing the acupuncture needles into acupoints

Benefits of Moxibustion

At the time of its invention in northern China, the treatment was meant to relieve rheumatic discomfort. Chinese doctors formerly thought that administering heat to particular body areas would increase blood flow and lessen pain. The general purpose of Moxibustion therapy is to improve blood flow and start the body’s natural healing process. It involves applying heat to specific body parts to create a biological reaction. Aside from that, warming the affected areas with the steady heat generated by the burning Moxa cones helps ease sore muscles.

Some of the health advantages of Moxibustion therapy include the following:

• Promotes energy flow and improves blood flow
• Warming the meridians to clear cold and moisture from the body to ease back pain, arthritic pain, and menstrual cramps
• Reduces breech births, infertility, and irregular menstruation problems
• Treats male health issues such as impotence and low sperm quality
• Increases resistance to colds and flu, especially for patients who get sick from contagious winter viruses a lot
• Stimulates the immune system to combat more severe infections and keeps the body healthy
• Relieving constipation and persistent diarrhea by regulating the digestive tract
• Reduces tingling sensations in the fingers and toes
• Lowers the potential for blood clots to form
• Reduces anxiety disorders and certain depressive symptoms
• Reduces the adverse effects of traditional cancer therapy

Why do people undergo Moxibustion therapy?

Traditional Chinese medicine has employed moxibustion therapy for thousands of years. In ancient times, it gained extensive recognition and had a broad range of applications. According to Chinese sources, moxibustion is advised for the treatment of 100–200 disorders. Unlike modern Western medical remedies, which sometimes act as one-to-one solutions for diseases, Moxibustion therapy acts on the entire body system. It goes without saying that it is crucial in this day and age when people are increasingly prone to illnesses that are tied to their lifestyles.