Moxa, properties and applications

Moxa is the remedy that exploits the heat released by the combustion of mugwort in order to cure but also prevent disturbances due to environmental conditions, contractures, energy imbalances.

Traditional Chinese Medicine contemplates various techniques for maintaining well-being and restoring energy balances.

Among these is also included moxibustion, indicated for inflammatory disorders , involving the digestive, respiratory, uro-gynecological, and musculoskeletal systems.

Artemisia Vulgaris is the plant that is used for the preparation of this important tool used in various oriental practices, including Shiatsu , Tuina and Japanese Foot Reflexology .

Artemisia, also known by the name ” devil crushing grass “, is harvested at the summer solstice, and from the dried and shredded leaves a wool is obtained with which balls, cones or, wrapping it in mulberry paper are formed , some cigars.

Moxa, what it is

Moxibustion is a treatment that uses the points of the energy meridians identified by traditional Chinese medicine. Artemisia cigars or cones are burned and used through the prolonged application of heat to specific points.

In fact, Moxa means “ burning herb ”, but the application is painless , the cigars are kept at a distance of about 3 cm from the skin and the application times can be up to 10 minutes per point. The heat of the moxa is very penetrating, pleasant and effective, it reaches deep and stimulates the relative energy channel.

There are various forms of moxibustion:

Moxa stick : A stick, or cigar of moxa lit at one end, is brought close to the area of the body to be treated
Needle Moxa : A piece of mugwort fluff is placed over an acupuncture needle that is already inserted and turned on. The heat passes through the needle and goes deep into the specific point.
Moxa box : it is a perforated box in which the moxa is inserted, to be placed on the part of the body to be treated
Direct-moxa : the moxa cone is placed directly on the skin, turned on at the end and left to burn. It may leave the skin slightly red.
Indirect-moxa : compared to the direct version, a disk of ginger or salt is interposed between the Moxa cone and the skin.

Moxa property

Moxa activates the properties of acupoints when used as a therapy adopted by an acupuncturist .

Moxa is especially useful in cases of:

Cold limbs: sometimes prone to circulatory deficits
cold bowel diarrhea or bowel “fire” diarrhea
constipation from excess yin
difficult digestion: from excess cold of the organ
asthenia: fatigue from energy deficiency of the kidneys
vascular laxity hemorrhoids , circulatory deficits
lung problems with excess moisture or dryness
overturning of the breech fetus

Speaking of this last option, Moxibustion in the case of breech fetus has been very successful , both combined with acupuncture and exercised with the cigar.

There are specific points, such as, for example, the external nail area of the fifth toe, point V 67 to be precise, which, when stimulated with the deep heat of the moxa, sends an input to the energy channel that spurs the fetus to move and promote the correct positioning.

The practice of this maneuver should only be performed if the appropriate conditions have occurred with your gynecologist.

When to use moxibustion

Moxa can be included among those treatments for preventive purposes : to maintain health, especially in the elderly.

Moxa is useful in various areas of treatment:

Disorders of various kinds: arthrosis , rheumatism, neck pain, sciatica, low back pain and joint pain often aggravated by climatic conditions of humidity and cold;
traumatic conditions, muscle contractures due to the so-called witch’s stroke, whiplash, stiff neck , epicondylitis;
emergency intervention: cramps, sprains, odontalgia, insect bites.