Moxibustion

Moxibustion is a part of traditional Chinese medicine treatment and is the burning of an herb called Mugwort (Moxa), is placed directly or indirectly to the acupuncture point or placed on the end of an inserted acupuncture needle. The herb, or moxa, has many forms, including cigar-like moxa rolls, raw rice grain size pieces, and compressed smokeless sticks and cones.  In TCM, Mugwort is considered to be warm, acrid, and bitter when used in herbal prescriptions.  When burnt, it has similar properties and, thus, its warming nature is useful for helping to expel cold and damp from the body as well as warming the body’s channels.  The bitter and acrid aspects of Moxa help to break stagnation, clear phlegm, and rectify the Qi and blood.

Moxibustion therapy is useful for many disorders including:

• may help turning the breech baby to normal position
• digestive disorders such as diarrhea or food stagnation
• painful periods
• sports injuries
• frozen shoulders
• pain that worsens with cold
• colds and flu