What Is Moxibustion, Its Uses, and How It Is Done

 This famous Chinese painting is a work by the artist Li Tang (李唐, 1066—1150AD）of the Song Dynasty. It is currently in the permanent collection of The National Palace Museum, located in Taiwan. In this painting, you can see a country doctor, with the help of his assistants and some villagers, treating a patient with moxibustion (艾灸)。

What Is Moxibustion?

Moxibustion is a healing method in traditional Chinese medicine. It involves burning moxa, a cone or stick made of ground mugwort leaves, on or near your body’s meridians and acupuncture points. 

The resulting heat helps stimulate these points and improves the flow of vital energy (also known as "qi" or "chi") throughout the body. In traditional Chinese medicine, stimulating the flow of chi is considered essential to achieving health and wellness, because blockages in the flow of chi can contribute to physical and mental health problems.

Uses

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners often use moxibustion to help treat the following health problems:

Pain, including pain from arthritis, joint or muscle pain, and chronic pain

Back pain

Headaches

Migraines

Muscle stiffness

Menstrual cramps

Digestive problems

Gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and constipation

Urinary incontinence

Asthma symptoms

Eczema

Fatigue

Cold and flu prevention

Ulcers

Cancer

Infertility

Tendonitis

Breech baby

And many other conditions

How is it done?

Moxibustion can be applied directly or indirectly. 

In direct moxibustion, the moxa cone rests on your body at the treatment point. The practitioner lights the cone and lets it burn slowly until your skin begins to turn red. Once you begin to feel heat, the practitioner removes it.

Indirect moxibustion is more commonly practiced. It’s also a safer option, since the burning moxa doesn’t actually touch your skin. Instead, the practitioner will hold it about an inch from your body. They’ll remove it once your skin becomes red and warm. 

Another method of indirect moxibustion uses an insulating layer of salt or ginger between the cone and your skin.

Moxibustion can be done by a practitioner or yourself.

Dr. Wu demonstrates how to use moxa and moxa box:

How to use moxa for arthritis: