Moxibustion (Moxa)

Moxa has been used alongside acupuncture for centuries. It is a dried herb that is rolled into cones or cigar shapes, which are lit and placed either directly on the skin, on top of the needle or moved close to the surface of the skin.

It is used in Chinese medicine to nourish the Qi and blood and to treat Cold and Damp within the body. Symptoms of 'cold' and 'damp' in the body show as: cold hands, feet and back, aching in the joints, loose bowels, incontinence.

It can also be the cause behind certain types of asthma, infertility and in certain musculoskeletal conditions such as in tennis elbow, wry neck, frozen shoulder and knee and back pain including sciatica.

It is also used in obstetric treatments such as to help turn a breech presentation baby from 34 weeks:

An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), described a study in which 75% of babies were successfully turned prior to birth following daily use of Moxa for 15-20 minutes.