The Uses And Healing Qualities Of Moxibustion Therapy

The name Moxibustion or Moxa therapy comes from the Japanese word “Moe Kusa” meaning ‘flaming herb’. Moxibustion is used to alleviate fatigue and pain in the body. Moxa is a kind of wool derived from the Mugwort plant. Moxibustion is a technique that’s mainly used in Japan and China but because of its healing qualities, it has become more and more utilized by a growing number of people all over the world.

Moxibustion therapy involves the use of a moxa stick which is ignited and its heat applied to the body. The heat is often focused on the acupuncture points or acupoints. The moxa stick has various qi toning qualities. It is created in a horizontal manner making it easy to handle and to allow less heat to reach the patient.

How to Perform Moxibustion:

1. First, take a moxa stick made from moxa wool and paper packed in a cylindrical form. Hold the stick in a vertical direction.

1. Allow the patient to lie down on a comfortable bench or couch. Tell the patient to remove his clothes from the body part that is to be treated. Place a towel on the patient’s body to cover the patient and to collect the ash that will fall from the moxa stick.

1. Next, ignite the end of stick using a lighter, candle, or match stick. Allow the stick to smolder after which you can place it just above the patient’s skin.

1. Hold the moxa stick two to three centimeters over the patient’s body. Make sure that the patient is comfortable and that he only feels soothing warmth. To avoid burning the patient, keep the stick a safe distance away from his skin.

1. Extinguish the smoke once the process is done. You can do this by either snuffing out the ash on the end, or by immersing the stick in water.

You will feel energized after a session of moxibustion. It aids in bolstering the flow of blood in the vessels with the heat received by the tissues. The lymphatic system begins to function properly and the smooth flow of qi is stimulated through all the meridians. This therapy relieves pain in the body organs, stimulates all the systems in the body, treats rheumatism, eliminates swelling, stiffness, and tension in the joints and muscles, and alleviates fatigue. Women can find the therapy helpful in normalizing their menstrual cycles and in addressing any disorders associated with it. Because of the pleasure and relaxation patients feel, they often fall asleep during the procedure. These wonderful benefits can already be felt after undergoing the therapy even just once.

One of the disadvantages of moxibustion is that it produces smoke that has an earthy smell. If you have asthma or are sensitive to smoke, you may find the procedure uncomfortable or intolerable. Otherwise, it can be extremely effective for all kinds of pain. We recommend that you select your therapist wisely. Even a bit of carelessness can damage your skin since heat is involved in this procedure. You need to find an experienced therapist who has been performing the procedure for years on a regular basis. Moxibustion is actually often combined with acupuncture treatment which uses slender acupuncture needles to stimulate and adjust the flow of qi. Acupuncture in San Antonio is used to boost the healing effects of moxibustion and to facilitate the healing processes of the body.

The Mugwort plant is considered sacred by the Natives of South and North America which they also use for spiritual healing. The natives use mugwort for magical purposes and believe that keeping this plant under pillows can help provoke dreams.