The primary tool in most acupuncture clinics are needles. At Common Way Acupuncture, I use needles for sure but also a lot of moxabustion. The Chinese logogram referring to acupuncture originally included moxa in the image. The two therapies have been linked for a very long time. I like using them together and do so for almost every person that comes for treatment.
As a heated therapy, moxabustion, or “moxa,” compliments the actions of the needles. Both are “moving” techniques, meaning they affect circulation of blood and body fluids. It is not simply the heat that does the work but also the properties of the plant that create change.
Moxa comes from the mugwort plant, a medicinal herb that’s been used in many cultures all over the globe. In Chinese medicine, the leaves from the plant are processed to create a variety of forms that are burned on or near the body. Research on moxa shows multiple uses from pain relief of any kind, including musculoskeletal as well as the smooth muscles of the uterus and digestive tract. Moxa can help with low energy and immune support. I regularly use it when people experience painful menstruation, arthritis, and also deep fatigue from undergoing chemotherapy or other challenging pharmaceutical regimens. When people have surgeries, moxa post-op is extraordinarily helpful for recuperating and managing scar tissue. Overall, we can say that it enhances the body’s ability to repair and defend itself from pathogens.
Consistent use of moxa raises white blood cell count, peaking 8 to 24 hours after application, and with sustained improvement over 13 weeks even after the treatment has stopped. This is one of the measurable ways we know that it supports the immune system. It also increases the hemoglobin in red blood cells—the part responsible for transporting oxygen to all other body parts, along with removing cellular waste. The hemoglobin ratio improved from 78% to 90% and up to 22 weeks after 15 treatments.
There are also special times of the year to use moxa in preparing the body for the change of seasons so that it can better resist colds and flu. As a preventive medicine, acupuncture really helps support the body’s day-to-day functions. You do not have to be “sick” or have something wrong to benefit.
There is one more tradition of using moxa that I like to share with people on their birthdays. I fill the belly button with salt and burn moxa cones on top of it. The navel is known as the “first scar,” a portal to our constitution and deepest resources. The salt resonates with the “kidney” in Chinese medicine, a group of organ functions we link to our genetic inheritance and also our potential in this life. To warm the body at this point can be said to reinforce your purpose and support your unique qualities.
For further reading on the some of the scientific details of moxa, check out Kat M. Lui’s blog here. She refers to a great project in Africa where moxabustion is being used and studied in the fight against TB. For a deeper introduction to mugwort beyond Chinese medicine, check out art ecologist Margaux Crump’s article here.
And, if you happen to have an appointment on your birthday, we can begin with some salt moxa!
Contact me to schedule an appointment. Call or text 562-477-5045. Email: cmwayacupuncture@gmail.com
