Moxibustion
A therapeutic herb is burned over the skin to produce a pleasant, soothing sensation of warmth throughout the body. This is an excellent therapy for fatigue, pain, the common cold, menstrual irregularities, infertility, and autoimmune disease. According to the ancient theory of Chinese Medicine, regular treatment with moxibustion at specific points on the body is said to increase vitality and lifespan.
A therapeutic herb is burned over the skin to produce a pleasant, soothing sensation of warmth throughout the body. This is an excellent therapy for fatigue, pain, the common cold, menstrual irregularities, infertility, and autoimmune disease. According to the ancient theory of Chinese Medicine, regular treatment with moxibustion at specific points on the body is said to increase vitality and lifespan.
Q. What are the different types of moxibustion?
A. Just as there are numerous different styles of acupuncture, there are a variety of styles of moxibustion. Not only can moxibustion be applied in several different ways, a variety of different tools and herbs are used. All of the different types of moxibustion can be placed into one of two different categories:
1) Direct moxibustion: This is the first form of moxibustion, invented sometime around 600 BCE. It consists of burning the herb mugwort directly on the skin, with a sesame oil and beeswax based skin cream (Zi Yun Gao) to prevent blistering or burning the skin. Very pure "gold" moxa is hand-molded into small, rice grain-sized "cones" or "threads" for direct moxibustion. High-grade, gold moxa has a very pleasant smell. One method of direct moxibustion that was developed by Fukaya Isaburo during the mid-20th century in Japan is to extinguish the moxa cones with a bamboo tube. However, the original way of extinguishing the burning moxa cone is for the practitioner to pinch the cone with two fingers.
2) Indirect moxibustion: This form of moxibustion came later, and involves a variety of materials and methods. With indirect moxibustion, an isolating substance is placed between the burning moxa and the skin. There are several different types of indirect moxa:
a) Ibuki moxa: This is also known as stick-on moxa.
b) Moxa cones: Larger-sized moxa "cones" are burned on top of another herb placed between the moxa and the skin. Common herbs used underneath moxa cones include sliced fresh ginger, raw sliced aconite, herb-infused cloth or gauze, sliced garlic, citrus peel, sliced lotus root, boiled egg white, salt, or medicinal herb "cakes." The substance used between the moxa and the skin is chosen by the practitioner according to the health condition of the patient.
c) Pole moxa: A moxa pole consists of lower-grade moxa that is rolled into a cigar-like shape and wrapped in rice paper. Some practitioners make their own moxa poles and add a special blend of herbs in with the moxa. Regardless of the type of herbs used, a moxa pole does not smell like aromatherapy. Nevertheless, it is an effective therapy for pain, digestive problems, and fatigue. The original way of using a moxa pole is to place a medicated cloth over the skin, and lightly press the burning moxa pole onto the cloth for one second, lift it back up, and repeat until the patient feels the heat. The more common practice now is for a practitioner to hold the burning moxa pole over the skin for several minutes without ever touching the skin. The disadvantage to that method is that a good method of ventilation is required because some patients are sensitive to the moxa smoke.
d) Moxa balls: These are placed on the end of a needle and lit with an incense stick.
e) Korean moxa bowl: Moxa is burned inside a bowl that conducts heat, and the bowl is placed on the body.
f) Moxa box: This device is similar to a moxa bowl, expect it is typically made of bamboo with a mesh screen at the bottom and ventilation windows on the sides and top.
Q. What are some common mistakes made by amateur practitioners?
A. Moxibustion is a very safe medical modality when administered by a properly trained Licensed Acupuncturist. However, some common mistakes made by amateur practitioners can result in burns, blisters, and infections. Here are the most common mistakes made when administering moxibustion:
1) Lighting the moxa with a lighter after applying it to an acupuncture point or acupuncture needle: Direct moxa, moxa balls placed on the top of a needle, and stick on moxa should be lit with an incense stick to prevent burning the patient with an open flame.
2) Applying direct moxa to an acupuncture point that already has a needle in it: If both acupuncture and moxibustion is required on a single acupuncture point, a moxa ball should be placed on the top end of the needle, skin shields should be placed on the skin surrounding the needle, and the moxa ball should be lit with an incense stick. Another method is to remove the needle, and then apply direct moxibustion. Applying direct moxa to an acupuncture point that already has a needle in it makes it virtually impossible to properly remove the moxa cone without burning the patient, and because a needle is in the skin it can also result in an infection.
3) Leaving the patient unattended with a smoking moxa box, lit moxa on a needle, or any other form of lot moxa on the body: A responsible acupuncturist should not leave the room when any form of moxa is lit on the body. Burning moxa can get hot really fast. It takes literally microseconds for the infrared heat coming from burning moxa to go from therapeutic to painful.
A. Just as there are numerous different styles of acupuncture, there are a variety of styles of moxibustion. Not only can moxibustion be applied in several different ways, a variety of different tools and herbs are used. All of the different types of moxibustion can be placed into one of two different categories:
1) Direct moxibustion: This is the first form of moxibustion, invented sometime around 600 BCE. It consists of burning the herb mugwort directly on the skin, with a sesame oil and beeswax based skin cream (Zi Yun Gao) to prevent blistering or burning the skin. Very pure "gold" moxa is hand-molded into small, rice grain-sized "cones" or "threads" for direct moxibustion. High-grade, gold moxa has a very pleasant smell. One method of direct moxibustion that was developed by Fukaya Isaburo during the mid-20th century in Japan is to extinguish the moxa cones with a bamboo tube. However, the original way of extinguishing the burning moxa cone is for the practitioner to pinch the cone with two fingers.
2) Indirect moxibustion: This form of moxibustion came later, and involves a variety of materials and methods. With indirect moxibustion, an isolating substance is placed between the burning moxa and the skin. There are several different types of indirect moxa:
a) Ibuki moxa: This is also known as stick-on moxa.
b) Moxa cones: Larger-sized moxa "cones" are burned on top of another herb placed between the moxa and the skin. Common herbs used underneath moxa cones include sliced fresh ginger, raw sliced aconite, herb-infused cloth or gauze, sliced garlic, citrus peel, sliced lotus root, boiled egg white, salt, or medicinal herb "cakes." The substance used between the moxa and the skin is chosen by the practitioner according to the health condition of the patient.
c) Pole moxa: A moxa pole consists of lower-grade moxa that is rolled into a cigar-like shape and wrapped in rice paper. Some practitioners make their own moxa poles and add a special blend of herbs in with the moxa. Regardless of the type of herbs used, a moxa pole does not smell like aromatherapy. Nevertheless, it is an effective therapy for pain, digestive problems, and fatigue. The original way of using a moxa pole is to place a medicated cloth over the skin, and lightly press the burning moxa pole onto the cloth for one second, lift it back up, and repeat until the patient feels the heat. The more common practice now is for a practitioner to hold the burning moxa pole over the skin for several minutes without ever touching the skin. The disadvantage to that method is that a good method of ventilation is required because some patients are sensitive to the moxa smoke.
d) Moxa balls: These are placed on the end of a needle and lit with an incense stick.
e) Korean moxa bowl: Moxa is burned inside a bowl that conducts heat, and the bowl is placed on the body.
f) Moxa box: This device is similar to a moxa bowl, expect it is typically made of bamboo with a mesh screen at the bottom and ventilation windows on the sides and top.
Q. What are some common mistakes made by amateur practitioners?
A. Moxibustion is a very safe medical modality when administered by a properly trained Licensed Acupuncturist. However, some common mistakes made by amateur practitioners can result in burns, blisters, and infections. Here are the most common mistakes made when administering moxibustion:
1) Lighting the moxa with a lighter after applying it to an acupuncture point or acupuncture needle: Direct moxa, moxa balls placed on the top of a needle, and stick on moxa should be lit with an incense stick to prevent burning the patient with an open flame.
2) Applying direct moxa to an acupuncture point that already has a needle in it: If both acupuncture and moxibustion is required on a single acupuncture point, a moxa ball should be placed on the top end of the needle, skin shields should be placed on the skin surrounding the needle, and the moxa ball should be lit with an incense stick. Another method is to remove the needle, and then apply direct moxibustion. Applying direct moxa to an acupuncture point that already has a needle in it makes it virtually impossible to properly remove the moxa cone without burning the patient, and because a needle is in the skin it can also result in an infection.
3) Leaving the patient unattended with a smoking moxa box, lit moxa on a needle, or any other form of lot moxa on the body: A responsible acupuncturist should not leave the room when any form of moxa is lit on the body. Burning moxa can get hot really fast. It takes literally microseconds for the infrared heat coming from burning moxa to go from therapeutic to painful.