Moxibustion
What is Moxibustion Therapy?
Moxibustion Therapy is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that utilizes mugwort (Ai Rong) burning, commonly known as moxa. In this practice, moxa is prepared as a cone or stick, crafted from ground mugwort leaves or other herbs. These moxa cones or sticks are burned to generate heat and warm specific acupuncture points on the body's surface.
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This therapeutic approach is believed to enhance the flow of vital energy, or Qi, through the body's meridians, promoting balance and alleviating various health conditions. Moxibustion is often employed in conjunction with acupuncture, providing a complementary and holistic method within Traditional Chinese Medicine.
What are the Benefits of Moxibustion Therapy?
Moxibustion employs the heat and herbal effects to conduct along the meridians, aiming to warm and ventilate qi and blood while strengthening blood flow. This practice stimulates the flow of vital energy (Qi), enhancing overall health and maintaining a balance of life energy.
Additionally, moxibustion serves to expel cold, promote circulation in meridians and collaterals, clear away heat, detoxify, and prevent diseases by dispelling evil qi. The efficacy of moxibustion in these functions relies on its ability to facilitate the circulation of qi and blood flow.
Does Moxibustion Help with Inflammation?
Traditionally, Moxibustion is employed to expel pathogens from the body while simultaneously providing warmth, stimulating blood circulation, and reducing inflammation. According to current Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, moxibustion is considered to have dual effects of unifying and purging. This technique has shown effectiveness in relieving pain, improving clinical symptoms, and reducing disease activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis. The potential mechanism behind these benefits may involve a decrease in the levels of serum inflammatory factors.
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If you're pregnant, be sure to tell your acupuncturist in advance of your treatment so they can use moxibustion with caution, if at all. And ask your acupuncturist not to use moxibustion if you have a mugwort allergy.