About Moxibustion

Please tell me when it gets hot?

In Japanese, acupunct-
ure is written as shinkyu and are two Chinese characters which mean Acupuncture and Moxibustion . The two are like inseparable brothers and sisters who flourish when they are both together.
Moxibustion is also known by its herb as mugwort or for short moxa and is perhaps lesser used or known than its seemingly bigger brother in the West Acupuncture. There are many different forms of moxa such as loquat leaf or biwa kyu. It can be burned on top of ginger or salt and is also burned on top of needles. The type we most use at the clinic is heat perception moxibustion, or chinetzukyu. This is the type that is most effective for putting good stuff into the body, and taking bad stuff out. Another form which is also similar is loquat leaf or biwa kyu which we sometimes use on its own, without acupuncture.
During the MacArthur era in Japan in the late 1940s the use of Acupuncture and moxa was almost outlawed. Fortunately the Traditional Medical Association stepped in and preserved the art by conducting a series of Western scientific medical trials to prove the effectiveness of this treatment. It was found that the use of moxa has a strong effect on the blood and in particular it is found to increase the amount of new white blood cells and even the smoke from moxa is also know for its anti carcinogenic properties.
From a traditionalists view point we think of moxa as improving the flow and radiation function of energy either by putting heat into the body, or taking it out. Depending on how moxa is used and prepared, we can think in terms of it as increasing the yin or yang energy.