Moxibustion heat therapy

Moxibustion treats and prevents diseases by applying heat to acupuncture points and meridians on the body. The material used is a herb, artemisia vulgaris, a species of chrysanthemum. Sometimes moxibustion can be more effective than acupuncture, whereas at other times the two have a synergistic effect.

The acrid odour of the leaf can travel through the meridians, regulate Qi and blood and expel cold from the meridians. Its bitter nature can resolve dampness. Burning the moxa wool produces a mild heat which is able to penetrate deeply into the muscles.

Moxa may be applied direct to the skin, in the form of cones, indirectly on the top of slices of ginger, garlic or salt. Most often moxa is rolled into a stick and the lit end held over the selected acupuncture points.

At Bayside Acupuncture Clinic, we often burn moxa herb on the ends of the needles to warm not only the acupuncture points, but to increase the flow of Qi and blood into the points and surrounding muscles.