Moxibustion, a form of traditional Chinese medicine, is a form of burning therapy. Moxibustion burns moxa, something which looks almost like a stick or cone of incense but is actually ground mugwort leaves. This is burned typically over specific acupuncture points or across the body’s meridians.
What is Moxibustion?
Moxibustion uses heat to stimulate specific points on the body and increase energy flow in the body. The flow of Qi can be stifled in some people. In traditional Chinese medicine, energy and circulating that energy throughout the body is important to preventing chronic health issues. When it is asked, “What is moxibustion”, this is the best explanation.
How Do You Do Moxibustion?
Moxibustion can be done with the moxa cone resting directly on the skin or lifted slightly above. Practitioners light the moxa and allow it to burn until the skin turns slightly red. As the person receiving moxibustion begins to feel the heat, this is when a practitioner removes the burning moxa.
That way of performing moxibustion is a lot less common in Western society than indirect moxibustion. When it is done indirectly – also the safer way of performing moxibustion – burning moxa never touches your skin. It is held an inch above the body and is, once again, removed once the skin turns red and warm.
There are lots of alternative ways to do moxibustion, though these rely on the expertise of the practitioner.
- Moxa placed on an acupuncture needle and burned this way, with the heat traveling downward on the needle.
- Using moxa boxes to fill with moxa, ignite, and place on the body as a form of direct moxibustion.
- A layer of salt or garlic as insulation between the cone and the skin, used for indirect applications.
Can I Do Moxibustion At Home?
You shouldn’t necessarily do moxibustion at home. There is no moxibustion DIY. It should be performed by a practitioner who is skilled in the art. A lot of TCM acupuncturists may be skilled in this area.
Some choose to do indirect moxibustion on their own but it is still preferred to see a trained professional do it first and to learn how to duplicate this at home. There are also some areas of one’s body that are difficult to reach on their own. Having a helper or a professional do the moxibustion for you is far and away the easiest arrangement.
Where to Buy Moxibustion Supplies
To do moxibustion right, you need somewhere you can go to get the right supplies and replenish them over time.
Black Friday deals galore! All this month long, shop high-quality moxibustion supplies at Lierre.ca. Moxa rolls and moxa sticks are on sale, with fast, easy shipping Canada-wide. If you are a moxibustion practitioner or need moxibustion supplies, shop online with Lierre.ca today.
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