Moxibustion

Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy that involves the burning of mugwort, a small, spongy herb, to facilitate healing. The term is derived from the Japanese "mogusa" meaning herb (mugwort) and the Latin "bustion" meaning burning.

History

Moxibustion has been used throughout Asia for thousands of years. The earliest record of moxibustion is in the Ebers Papyrus, one of the oldest known medical texts, which dates to around 1550 BC. The Huangdi Neijing, an ancient Chinese medical text, also describes the use of moxibustion in the treatment of various ailments.

Method

In moxibustion, a small, cone-shaped amount of moxa is placed on the tip of a needle or on a patient's skin. The moxa is then ignited and as it burns slowly, a therapeutic heat permeates the skin and affects the flow of "qi" and "blood" in the body.

Types of Moxibustion

There are two types of moxibustion: direct and indirect. In direct moxibustion, a small amount of moxa is placed on an acupuncture point and burned. This method is no longer used very often due to the risk of pain and scarring. In indirect moxibustion, a moxa stick, roughly the shape and size of a cigar, is burned near the acupuncture point to warm the skin.

Uses

Moxibustion is used for many conditions including arthritis, digestive disorders, and gynecological conditions. It is also used to turn breech babies in pregnant women.

Safety and Effectiveness

While moxibustion has been used for thousands of years in Asia, its effectiveness and safety are still under investigation by Western medicine. Some studies have shown that it can be effective for certain conditions, but more research is needed.

See Also

• Acupuncture
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Herbal Medicine

References

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