Moxa Treatment

Moxa is applying heat into the body to promote the healing process. Traditionally, the Chinese uses the leaf of a plant called Mugwort to make moxa cones. Moxa is a very popular technique in China to strengthen the physical body and maintain healthy.

Moxa treatment in general includes two types of techniques. One is called “indirect moxa” and another “direct moxa”.

The indirect moxa technique applies the moxa on top of a media, such as a slice of garlic, a slice of ginger, a thin herbal cake remedy, or salt. The heat will go through the media into the body. Indirect moxa will carry the therapeutic action into the body along with heat. Another method of indirect moxa is using a moxa stick. There are smoke and smokeless two different types of moxa sticks available today. After the moxa stick is lit up, just heat the affected area over the skin. It is the safest way of doing moxa with a moxa stick.

Second, direct moxa applies burning mugwort directly on the skin, which can heat the point very quickly. When the patient feels the hot sensation, the practitioner will remove the moxa quickly from the skin.

Both techniques of moxa can tonify qi and yang and warm the body to expel cold pathogens. Many Chinese are doing moxa regularly to strengthen their immune systems and maintain healthy.