Home Moxa Treatment
What is moxa?
Moxibustion or moxa is made from the dried herb called Chinese mugwort (Artemesia argyi or A. vlugaris). Moxa is rolled into a stick and then burned on or very near the surface of the skin. The intense heat from moxa warms up the skin and helps invigorate the flow of blood and energy at that point or channel. Moxibustion is an important modality in the Eastern medicine toolbox, one that has been used for over 2000 years in China and is often combined with acupuncture to speed up and increase the efficacy of the treatment.
When can moxa be used?
Because of its warming property, moxa is often used for cold patterns with cold symptoms such as cold hands and feet, cold stomach, or women with painful cramps, and to turn breech babies.
Check with your acupuncturist to see if moxa is for you and what points or channels should be treated.
How to prepare to do moxa at home (pdf version)
Home treatment moxa is compressed into a cigar-like roll that makes it easier to use. There are two types of stick moxa:
Regular moxa: find a ventilated area (best to do outside on the porch or yard), open windows, and turn on fans if necessary
Smokeless moxa: can be used indoor but best to use in a ventilated area also
Before using moxa, prepare the following:
Lighter or small candle
Ceramic or glass dish, such as an ashtray
A rice or soil filled glass jar with an air-tight lid that is large enough to fit the moxa stick
A small towel to place under the treated area to protect the surface from fallen ash
A type of moxibustion: Loose moxa
How to use moxa at home (indirect)
Light one end of the moxa stick, holding it steady until it has an even red glow, it might take a couple of minutes especially with a new moxa stick.
As the moxa sticks burns, tap the extra ash onto the ceramic dish to prevent from falling causing burns.
Carefully hold the moxa stick with lit end about 1 – 2 inches away from the skin. You should start to feel warmth on the skin surface.
Points: Moxa stick can be held stationary, waving up and down, or in small circle at one point until you start to feel uncomfortably warm, you can then move on to the next point. DO NOT keep holding at one point and DO NOT touch the lit end directly onto the skin.
Channels (meridians): Moxa stick can be moved along a channel, not too quick that you don’t feel the warmth but not too slow that it gets too hot at one spot. Keep moving until you feel warm throughout the whole channel then move on to the next channel. DO NOT keep holding and DO NOT touch the lit end directly onto the skin.
To extinguish moxa, put the lit end in the glass of rice or soil and close lid tightly. Careful not to touch the jar as it may become hot.
Store moxa stick in a dry place to prevent moisture accumulation which can cause extra smoke and harder to light.
Note: Home moxa treatment is indirect moxa, meaning the hot end of the moxa stick should NEVER touch the skin. Direct moxa should only be done by a licensed practitioner.
Downloadable version: pdf
Cover Photo by Paul Bulai on Unsplash
Loose Moxa Photo by Katherine Hanlon on Unsplash