3,000 yeas ago in China, moxibustion (moxa) was started as a heating therapy by one of the Asian traditional medicines. Moxa is made of a dried fluff of mugwort, which is in rich in essential oils; cineole and eucalyptus. Practitioners use moxa to stimulate an acupuncture point by heat, and improve the patient’s self healing power and physiology.
Moxa takes root in Asian life style, especially in Japan. The word “moxa” comes from Japanese mogusa. Yomogi (means mugwort) also serves as a synonym for moxa in Japan. We can see a moxa kit in drug stores as everybody can use it easily at home. They use yomogi to make a Japanese seasonal sweet cake (Kusa Mochi), also eat yomogi as Tempura. Yomogi, as eating, is included oleic acid, linoleic acid, Vitamin A, B1, and B2. In spring, Japanese moms ask their kids to get Yomogi from a field or a hill, and they cook the sweet cake for the family. That is a great memory personally.
Why Moxa?
- Analgesic – Moxa stimulates adrenal gland as homeostasis, and secretes anti-inflammatory hormone, such as cortisone. It is especially good for severe pain caused by smooth muscle spasm of internal organs, cramp as PMS, and skeletal muscle tension such as shoulders, neck, and low back pain.
- Promote Blood Circulation – Moxa warms your body and blood vessel, which promote blood circulation, helps detoxication, regulates blood pressure and hormonal balance, and improves bad circulation.
- Improve Immune System – Some medical researches show that white blood cell count and T-cell count rise after moxa, which plays an important role in individual immune system. Moxa is good for those who have weakened or imbalanced immune system, from cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, allergy, asthma, chronic fatigue, and all other chronic disease.
Methods
- Direct moxa – Use the ointment or a patch on an acupuncture point to prevent the skin from burning. A traditional way is lighting moxa directly on the point and let it being burned off, or put them out before they burn off. It is good for calves, corn, and athlete’s foot.
- Indirect Moxa – Put a substance under the moxa such as ginger (for diarrhea), salt (for detox, opium addiction), garlic, and miso.
- Moxa Stick – Wrapped tightly in a paper like a cigar. Lit and held about 1 inch away from skin.
- Kyutoshin – Moxa on the top of the needle to give both the acupuncture and the radiation heat from moxa. ‘Kyu’ means moxa, ‘to’ is head, and ‘shin’ is needle in Japanese.
- Gauze moxa – moxa on a wet gauze for sprain.