Moxibustion

            In addition to acupuncture, there is another similar invention just as effective for preservation of health. It is called moxibustion. Moxibustion is the burning of dried leaves of a plant called Artemisia Vulgaris, at an acupoint. It’s really fascinating! We had moxibustion practice led by the doctors of Yunnan TCM hospital. The doctors did a great job at explaining and demonstrating how moxibustion works.

Moxibustion functions to promote blood circulation. It also works to nourish Yang Qi which “charges the battey” for anti-fatigue. It also warms the channels, found throughout our body that connect organs, and expels pathogenic cold. Moxibustion can be done in three ways: with a moxa stick, moxa cone: direct and indirect, or with an acupuncture needle. A moxa stick is a stick made of dried Artemisia Vulgaris and is ignited on one end and put over the selected point or diseased part of the body. With indirect moxibustion, an ignited moxa cone is insulated from the skin by a pad of medical substance. Some pads that are used are ginger, garlic, and salt and these are used for treating different conditions. With direct moxibustion there is no padding and so the burning may scar the patient.

I faced my fear of needles again. I had moxibustion done on both my legs. The area was first disinfected and then an acupuncture needle was inserted into a point called zusanli. Some treatment purposes that this point has are: vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, numbness and pain in the lower extremities, and edema.  Once I endured the pain from the doctor inserting the needles, the doctor attached a piece of moxa (dried Artemisia Vulgaris) to the end of the needle and ignited it. I felt a numbness and tenseness in my legs during the 15-minute treatment.  According to Dr. Wen, this was good because that meant I was having a sensation of qi, the energy within us. Although I wasn’t sick, having moxibustion done once in a while helps tonify the body.  Unfortunately, one of my classmates was feeling very sick that day and so we practiced moxibustion on him. Later on that day he felt way better.

The next invention we will study is cupping. Cupping?