Knowledge
General
How to pick up good moxa sticks?
Moxibustion is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that involves burning moxa, usually made from the dried leafy material of Chinese mugwort (Artemisia argyi) on or near the skin at specific acupuncture
points. The burning of the herbs creates a warming sensation and is believed to stimulate circulation and the flow of qi (vital energy) throughout the body.
Well trained practitioners apply two main types of moxibustion: direct and indirect. Direct moxibustion involves placing a small cone of moxa directly on the skin and burning it until it smolders, while indirect moxibustion involves burning moxa on top of a slice of ginger, garlic, or other substance placed on the skin. Most commonly practiced moxibustion is moxa stick, a cigar shape roll made of moxa for
convenience of treatment.
In theory, moxibustion can be practiced by trained and licensed acupuncturists, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, and other healthcare professionals who have received appropriate training and certification in the use of this therapy. In practice, anyone can practice moxibustion with guidance of moxibustion practitioner. Once your moxibustion practitioner show you acupuncture points (acupoints), treatment frequency based on your specific health issues, you can do it at home by yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6N6KGyPDfg&t=104s
How is Moxa made ?
Moxa is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that is derived from the dried leaves of mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris). The process of producing moxa involves the following steps, which are
illustrated in the accompanying picture:
- Harvesting: Mugwort plants are harvested during late summer or early autumn, when their leaves are fully matured and contain the highest concentration of essential oils.
- Drying: The harvested leaves are then dried in the sun or in a well-ventilated area until they are completely dry.
- Aging: After the drying process, the leaves are stored for several months to allow them to mature and develop their medicinal properties.
- Grinding and sieving: The leaves undergo repeated grinding and sieving to create a high-quality floss-like substance. The purity of the floss is key, as moxa containing leaf debris can produce more irritating smoke when burned.
- Forming: The floss is then compressed into various shapes, such as small sticks.
- Burning: The compressed moxa shapes are ignited and burned near or on specific
acupuncture points on the body to provide therapeutic benefits. It is important to
distinguish between high-quality and poor-quality moxa to ensure optimal results.
Who are the right candidates of moxibustion and who are not?
The benefits of moxibustion to the human body can be summarized as follows:
1. Unblock meridians, dispel cold and dampness, and promote blood circulation and
remove blood stasis. As the saying goes, if there is no blockage, there is no pain; if
there is pain, there is blockage. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that various
pains occur when meridians become blocked for an extended period. Moxibustion can help remove cold and dampness from the body, accelerate the circulation of qi and blood throughout the body.
2. Enhance yang energy and tonify the middle burner. Traditional Chinese medicine
believes that when there is insufficient qi and the yang energy sinks, the body’s
resistance decreases. Moxibustion can stimulate the body’s yang energy, provide energy to the body, and help the organs function normally.
3. Improve immunity and prolong life. Moxibustion has the function of warming and
nourishing deficiency, which can prevent and treat diseases and prolong life.
Therefore, several types of people are suitable for moxibustion, including those with poor health,
chronic fatigue syndrome, menopausal syndrome, sub-health status, and those who need
rehabilitation after an illness or surgery.
Therefore, the following categories of people are more suitable for moxibustion:
● People with a cold and cool constitution (often have cold hands and feet, irregular
menstruation, dysmenorrhea, fear of cold, diarrhea, etc., NOT the ones who catch cold
or common flu. In fact, it may make you to feel worse if you already catch cold and do
moxibustion)
● People with low immunity. Moxibustion will boost your immunization system.
● Postpartum women in recovery
● People with shoulder, neck, waist, and leg pain
● Menopausal women
However, if you do not belong to the above groups and happen to fall into one of the following categories, it is strongly recommended not to use moxibustion:
1. Women during pregnancy and menstruation
2. People with metal implants in their body
3. Hypertensive patients
4. Patients with benign and malignant tumors
5. People with a hot constitution, such as those who often have mouth ulcers, fear of heat,
and constipation
6. People with high fever, excessive fatigue, and swollen body are not suitable for
moxibustion.
What are health issues that moxibustion may help
In term of studies done by Cleveland Clinics www.health.clevelandclinic.org and the University of Minnesota and www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu
Baby breech in late pregnancy.
○ Period pain (Menstrual cramps or Dysmenorrhea)
○ Joint pain.
○ Indigestion.
○ Organ prolapse.
○ Gastrointestinal issues.
○ Infertility.
○ Other issues. Please submit inquiry through our “Solutions” system to get more
information if moxibustion can benefit you.
Please refer to each health issue on DIY page for how moxibustion can help each disease.
Moxibustion originates from traditional Chinese medicine and has a history of over 3000 years.
The fundamental reason moxibustion continues to develop and be passed down is that it is effective. Modern medical technology has found that two factors play a role in therapeutic effects, one is infrared radiation, the heat produced when moxa burns, which is very effective and adaptable for treating the body. The other one is the essential oil it produces.
According to the principles of physics, any object can absorb and emit infrared radiation,
including the human body. The heat radiation produced by burning moxa is recognized as
infrared radiation, mainly near-infrared radiation, which can stimulate the biological molecules hydrogen bonds in the human body’s acupoints. Through the nervous and body fluid systems, energy is supplied to the whole body, activating the body’s immunity and ultimately acting on the affected area.
In other words, the infrared radiation during moxibustion can provide the necessary energy for the metabolism and immune function of the body’s cells and provide activation energy for pathologic cells lacking energy.
Drawback of moxibustion
Moxibustion has some potential drawbacks that should be considered. Firstly, like cigarette smoking, moxibustion produces smoke, which can be an irritant for people with respiratory issues. Additionally, the distinct odor of moxa can be challenging for some people, with some describing it as a plant fragrance and others as similar to marijuana. To minimize the odor, (1) it's recommended to use a well-ventilated room or a bathroom with a ventilation fan, (2) wear easily washable clothes, (3) cover your hair with a bathing cap (if necessary), (4) wear mask to minimize inhale of moxa smoke, and (5) take a bath after treatment (waiting for at least 30 minutes).
While smokeless moxa varieties are available, some experts believe that they are less effective than traditional moxa. This is because the smoke produced by burning moxa is believed to contain beneficial trace elements and have a calming effect on the nervous system, making it an essential therapeutic element in moxibustion. During the production of smokeless moxa, some of the essential oils from the moxa are burned away, which may result in a less effective product compared to regular moxa sticks. Therefore, many practitioners still prefer the use of traditional moxa sticks for optimal therapeutic benefits.
Adverse effect of Moxibution
As with any medical treatment, moxibustion can have adverse effects, although they are usually mild and rare. The most common adverse effect is an allergic reaction, while other rare adverse effects include xerophthalmia, xeroderma, hyperpigmented macules, ptosis, and eversion of the eyelids. It is important to exercise caution when using moxibustion, and to stop using it if any adverse effects occur. If any adverse effects persist, it is recommended to seek help from medical professionals. To minimize the risk of adverse effects, it is suggested to start with a short duration of moxibustion (e.g., 5 minutes) for the first time, and gradually increase the duration to allow the body to adjust to the effects.
Treatment
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