艾灸What is moxibustion?
Moxibustion therapy means treating disease with ignited "moxa-wool" to produce heat on the points or certain locations of the human body.
Moxa wool is made of dry moxa leaves (Artemisia vulgaris) ground into a fine powder with the coarse residue removed. It has the properties of warming and removing obstruction of channels, eliminating the cold and damp factors and thus promoting the function of the organs. It is considered that the older the moxa wool the better.
The moxa wool may be made in the shape of a cone from the size of a wheat grain to size of half a date stone.
There are different methods of applying moxibustion in clinic:
Direct moxibustion
direct moxibustion is performed by placing the ignited cone directly over the point on the skin. There are two types of this method: the scarring and the non-scarring moxibustion.
- The non-scarring moxibustion:
- The scarring moxibustion:
Indirect moxibustion
- indirect moxibustion with ginger
- indirect moxibustion with garlic
- indirect moxibustion with salt
- indirect moxibustion with herbal biscuit
Moxibustion with Moxa stick
Moxibustion with Warming Needle
The theory of making diagnosis and choosing treatment points are the same as acupuncture.It helps free flow of Qi and blood, expel cold dampness from the meridians and help strengthen Yang Qi, therefore help strengthen the immune system.
Generally moxibustion is a combined with acupuncture or as a complement to acupuncture treatment. As the ancient acupuncture book states" When acupuncture does not help, moxibustion works".
