Cupping, Moxibustion, and Gua Sha continued…

Now onto the topic of Moxibustion! It’s smoky, it’s smelly… why do we use it? It’s a different approach to emphasizing treatment. Moxa is used also when warmth is needed therapeutically.

  • Moxibustion tonifies Yang / Kinetic energy /energy for activity
  • warms the meridian
  • moves qi and blood (circulation and balance)
  • removes stagnation
  • promotes health
  • prevents disease
  • used alone or with the acupuncture needle
  • Useful for:
    • frozen shoulder
    • sciatica
    • neurodermatitis (post shingles)
    • diarrhea
    • high blood pressure
    • Bell’s Palsy
    • flu prevention
    • chronic fatigue

Moxibustion is dried mugwort (herb) lit on fire that penetrates heat more deeply than an acupuncture needle!

Moxibustion is contraindicated for:

  • pregnant women in their 1st trimester
  • those who have “yin deficiency” (no tongue coating and a thin pulse)
  • menopausal women (yin deficient)
  • use on the face (except for palsy from stroke)
  • those who have excess heat imbalance

If you would like to try moxibustion, ask your acupuncturist if it is right for you. Also, prepare for your clothes, skin, and hair to smell like moxa until washing. The smell may make others wonder about what you’ve gotten into… wandering minds! So plan accordingly.

Gua Sha method to be continued…

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