Moxibustion
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Moxibustion (Chinese: 灸; pinyin: jǐu) is the traditional Chinese medical therapy utilizing moxa, or mugwort herb. The mugwort is usually aged and ground up to a fluff, burned as is or further processed into a stick that resembles a cigar, but is not smoked. It can be used indirectly, with acupuncture needles, or is sometimes burnt on the skin.
The word "moxa" comes from Japanese mogusa (艾), with the u unpronounced. Moxa is also called yomogi (蓬) in Japan. Chinese uses the same character as mogusa, but pronounced differently: ài, also called àiróng (艾絨), or "velvet of ài".
Moxa is used to warm regions and acupuncture points with the intention of stimulating circulation through the points and inducing a smoother flow of blood and qi. Scientific research has shown that mugwort acts as an emmenagogue, meaning it stimulates blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus. Moxibustion is used against cold and dampness in the body and to turn breech babies.
The Chinese characters for moxa is one of the two making up the Chinese word that often gets translated to "acupuncture". Moxibustion it is thought to predate acupuncture, and needling was added as a supplement to moxa after the 2nd century BC. Different schools of Acupuncture use Moxa in varying degrees. For example a 5 Element Acupuncturist will use moxa directly on the skin whilst a TCM style practitioner will use rolls of moxa and hold them over the point to be treated.
Practitioners consider moxibustion to be especially effective in the treatment of chronic problems, "deficient conditions" (weakness), and gerontology. Bian Que, one of the most famous doctors of Chinese antiquity and the first specialist in moxibustion discusses the benefits of moxa over acupuncture in his classic work. He asserts that moxa can add new energy to the body and can be used for both excess and deficient conditions. On the other hand, he advises against the use of acupuncture in an already deficient (weak) patient, on the grounds that needle manipulation will leak too much energy.
There is a huge classical work devoted solely to treatment indications for moxa on a single point (穴): Gao Huang Shu (膏肓俞). In addition, Taoists use scarring moxibustion along with Chinese medical astrology for longevity.
In North and South America, Mugwort is a sacred plant of divination and spiritual healing, as well as a panacea. In Europe, sprigs were placed under pillows to provoke dreams and it is associated with the practice of magic in Anglo-Saxon times.
See also
External link
- Slide show demonstrating moxibustion (http://www.akupunktura.de/TCM_was_ist_das__Traditionelle/Moxibustion_-_was_ist_das_/Nadelmoxa_-_Moxibustion_-_TCM_/Nadelmoxa_-_Moxibustion_Diasho/nadelmoxa_-_moxibustion_diasho.html) (commercial site in German)