Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy using moxa (mugwort herb),
along with acupuncture. Medical historians believe moxibustion actually pre-dates acupuncture. Moxibustion is the application of heat
resulting from the burning of a small bundle of tightly bound moxa to targeted acupoints. Practitioners use moxa to warm regions and
acupuncture points with the intention of stimulating circulation through the points and inducing a smoother flow of blood to promote
the body's ability to heal itself.Moxibustion is especially effective in the treatment of chronic problems and gerontology. It is believed to add new energy to the body and is used to treat both excess and deficient conditions because the radiant heat produced by moxibustion penetrates deeply into the body, restoring the balance and flow of vital energy or life force (qi).
According to Chinese medicine, there are different types of qi, such as yin and yang types of qi. The yang type of qi is one of the essential
materials that build up the foundation of the human body. Sufficient yang qi is essential for a healthy life. The disorder of yang qi can
lead to cold, deficiency or even exhaustion of the essential qi and is so severe situation it sometimes may cause even cause a coma. In these
cases, moxibustion can be applied to reinforce yang qi and stop the collapse.
Pathogenic factors such as cold and heat can cause abnormal flow of qi and blood in the body, which may lead to all kinds of diseases (including arthritis). For example, cold can cause the slow flow or even stagnation of qi, which is one of the main factors of pain. Moxibustion can help remove the stagnation of qi and the blood through warming up qi, and thus relieve pain and other ailments. Moxibustion can be used for reinforcement and reduction purposes. The reinforcement technique is a therapeutic method for patients with deficiency, such as fatigue. The reduction method is usually used for patients with excess, such as high fever.
Moxibustion can be applied at the acupuncture point at the bottom of the feet to treat disorders such as hypertension, when yang qi flows upward abnormally. On the other hand, moxibustion applied at the top of the head can help yang qi to flow upward normally, and treat disorders such as chronic diarrhea.
Detailing the functions of moxibustion, the authors of Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion say that it is used for the following purposes:
Abnormal flow of qi and blood usually results from cold and heat. Cold causes obstructed flow or even stagnation of qi, and heat results in rapid flow of qi. Normal heat activates blood circulation and cold impedes its smooth flow. Since stagnation of qi and blood is often relieved by warming up the qi, moxibustion is the right way to generate the smooth flow of qi with the help of the ignited moxa wool.
Another function of moxibustion is to induce qi and blood to flow upward or downward. For example, moxibustion is used to treat disorders caused by excess in the upper part and deficiency in the lower part of the body.
Yang qi is the foundation of the human body. If it is in a sufficient condition, a man lives a long life; if it is lost, death occurs. Yang disorder is due to excess of yin, leading to cold, deficiency, and exhaustion of the primary qi, characterized by a fatal pulse. At this moment, moxibustion applied can reinforce yang qi and prevent collapse.
It is often said, If one wants to be healthy, you should often have moxibustion over the point zusanli. Frequent moxibustion on zusanli can invigorate the spleen and stomach, assist in digestion, hence, strengthening the body and slowing down the process of aging.
A study in Taiwan found that mice with tumors that had been treated with moxibustion lived longer than mice with tumors that had not. In addition to Cancer, Moxibusion is believed to help treat chronic conditions such as arthritis, digestive disorders, and ulcers. For thousands of years it has been accepted by the general Chinese population as an effective curative method for a wide range of indications, because of its simple application, low-cost and safety.
Both historical and current clinical experiences have proven that moxibustion is not only a very effective, but also a convenient method in preventing diseases and improving health.
