Moxibustion

Moxibustion is an externally applied Tradition Chinese Medicine treatment using a Chinese herb called Moxa, commonly known as ‘Mugwort’.   For external use Moxa is compressed and rolled into a cigar-shaped herbal stick.  Moxa sticks are then lit and held over acupuncture points.  The radiant heat produced has the effect of stimulating the point. The purpose of moxibustion, as with most forms of traditional Chinese medicine, is to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of Qi, and maintain general health.

Moxibustion is used for

• Pain due to injury orarthritis, especially in “cold” patterns where the pain naturally feels better with the application of heat
• Digestive problemsand irregular elimination
• Painful menstrual-related systems
• Improves blood circulation and stimulates the production of hemoglobin, resulting useful in cases of anemia
• Gynecological and obstetrical conditions, including certain cases of infertility and breech presentation in late termpregnancy
• Protection against cold and flu strains
• Improving our immune system

Moxibustion and Breech Presentation

In Western medicine, moxibustion has successfully been used to turn breech babies into a normal head-down position prior to childbirth. A landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that up to 75% of women suffering from breech presentations before childbirth had fetuses that rotated to the normal position after receiving moxibustion at an acupuncture point on the Bladder meridian. Other studies have shown that moxibustion increases the movement of the fetus in pregnant women, and may reduce the symptoms of menstrual cramps when used in conjunction with traditional acupuncture.