Using mugwort in moxibustion heat therapy is amongst the oldest forms of Chinese traditional medicine which is used to stimulate the actual flow of qi and maintain general health. It specifically dispels cold and water.

Moxibustion Healing is the process of focusing heat upon acupressure points.  This method can treat pains and aches and is even recognized to relieve menstrual cramps.

Traditionally it meant burning moxa – mugwort along with herbs – directly on the skin over acupressure things. Because of pain, burning and in many cases scarring, this method will be seldom used. Sometimes the burning moxa can be placed on some ginger, salt or additional compound – carefully, by a skilled practitioner, so it heats but does definitely not burn.

Today, indirect moxibustion involves burning a moxa stick an inch or maybe more above the skin, or maybe combining moxibustion with acupuncture. Within this method, an acupuncture needle will be inserted and heated by burning moxa – thus heat is conducted through the needle in the body.

All moxibustion will involve burning mugwort (artemesia vulgaris), a tiny, spongy herb, compounded along with other herbs, depending upon requirements. Mugwort, the plant based essence of moxibustion, is fabled worldwide for preventing the evil eye in addition to maintaining health.

Moxibustion dates back to the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-770BC). The actual Chinese characters for acupuncture zhen jiu, which translated literally means “acupuncture-moxibustion. ”

Because the two therapies share a similar purpose, improving the flow of energy, they were often utilised in pairs. However, moxibustion has its very own special benefits.

“Both acupuncture and moxibustion make an effort to unblock the energy channels and thus stimulate the energy stream, yet moxibustion is more appropriate in dispelling coldness in addition to dampness while warming the actual meridians. This is a result of the characteristics of mugwort, the actual raw material of moxa, ” claims Cao Yinyan, the chairman at Yinyan Indirect Moxibustion Wellbeing Resort.

Cao Yinyan used to be a plastic surgeon, but has taken on the study and practice of TCM and moxibustion about several years ago when she observed Western medicine inadequate as being a holistic approach. She now operates three moxibustion health resorts as well as a moxibustion training school.

“The human body is like a running machine. Water will rust it though coldness will freeze that, ” says Cao. “Therefore, apart from adding oil to help it to run again, we should also help it eliminate the unfriendly damp and chilly environment. And that’s exactly what moxibustion does. ”

You’ll find three common types involving moxibustion: direct moxibustion having a moxa cone, moxa needle (acupuncture) therapy, and indirect moxibustion having a moxa stick.

In moxibustion having a moxa cone, a small, cone-shaped piece of moxa is placed along with an acupuncture point in addition to burned. It can be placed directly on the skin or placed on some ginger, aconite herbal wedding cake, or salt.

Moxa needle therapy, or wen zhen (warm needle), will be “acupuncture-moxibustion. ” Needles are generally inserted into acupuncture things, while the top on the needle is wrapped inside moxa and ignited. The needles conduct heat into the energy routes. Moxa is absorbed over the skin, and inhaled.

Moxibustion having a moxa stick, xuan jiu (indirect), is the most popular because there is dramatically reduced risk of pain or maybe burning. A practitioner lights one end of your moxa stick, roughly the size and shape of a cigar, and holds it near the area being treated for a few minutes until the area turns red from the heat.

“With preparation in addition to back work (including mugwort rear massage), the moxibustion therapy will be relaxing and pleasant, ” claims Cao.

Patients first bathe their feet in warm herbal liquid medicine, which helps open the acupuncture points and stimulate the blood flow. Then essential mugwort oil is massaged in the back of a patient lying on his or her stomach. The aromatic penetrating oil will stimulate the flow of energy.

Then comes the key part – moxibustion. The moxa stick could be held one to three inches above skin.

Many people find the actual moxa aroma relaxing. The moxa sticks are generally compounded with mugwort and different herbs for different ailments, such as deficient yang electricity, excessive internal heat, or maybe dampness.

When the heat on the burning moxa stick penetrates the acupuncture point, the muscle and surrounding area will be warm. The warm area expands as the stick is kept inside the same place for several minutes.

As your energy channel becomes more free, the faster the warm area stretches. The coldness or water will actually come right out of the acupuncture point in the method, and the practitioner may feel it. If that you are seriously suffering from water, the emerging dampness will even moisten the burning moxa stick and change its shape from the cylinder to a cone.

Therapy takes about 90 a few minutes, then you eat the cup of white candida soup. The sound of “great mercy mantra” from the tape or CD occurs with full treatment, helping someone to relax physically and emotionally.

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