Moxibustion is an old and very effective form of oriental therapy, that uses the herb Artemisia vulgaris herb, aka Mugwort.  This therapy is used to move, strengthen, and nourish one’s Qi, build blood, warm and nourish the whole person.  Moxibustion is used to treat issues such as back pain, menstrual cramps, headaches, migraines, digestive issues, to name a few, and it also helps to soothe and calm the whole person. Both acupuncture and moxa can be used independently of one another, but are best used together in conjunction to boost the treatments effects; it adds that little “extra”, so to speak. 

There is direct and indirect application methods.  Direct moxa is when the loose herb is rolled into a small cone, about the half the size of a grain of rice, placed on the selected acupuncture point and lit with a specific type of incense.  When the patient feels warmth at the point, the practitioner removes the moxa cone, another is applied, and the process repeated.  Each acupuncture point has a certain number of moxa cones that are appropriate for the specified treatment purpose.  

Moxa is a lovely addition to acupuncture treatments as it is the little addition that makes a big difference in one’s individual health and well-being.