Moxibustion

Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) technique that involves the burning of mug wort, a small, spongy herb, to facilitate healing.

Moxibustion has been used throughout Asia for thousands of years.

Its purpose of moxibustion, is to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of qi, and maintain general health.

In TCM, practitioners recommend moxibustion use on the treatment of people who have a cold or stagnant condition.

The burning of moxa expels cold and warm the meridians, which leads to smoother flow of blood and qi.

In Western medicine its use refers to turn breech babies into a normal head-down position prior to childbirth.

Mug wort has other names such as artemesia vulgaris or ai ye in Chinese; it has a long history of use in folk medicine.

Research has shown that it acts as agent that increases blood circulation to the pelvic area and uterus and stimulates menstruation. Consequently this could explain its use in treating breech births and menstrual cramps.