A Brief Introduction to Moxibustion

A Brief Introduction to Moxibustion

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Have you ever heard of moxibustion?

You may have seen it before, or even experienced it during a visit to your acupuncturist. Moxibustion is a form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy that has been used to treat various health conditions for more than 2500 years. Let’s take a look at what exactly moxibustion is and how it’s used in traditional Chinese medicine.

What Is Moxibustion?

Mugwort, or artemisia, is a flowering species belonging to the daisy family. Moxibustion is an external treatment applied directly onto the surface of an acupoint to warm certain points on the body.

It involves the burning of moxa wool, which is made from dried mugwort plant material, until it produces heat that penetrates into the skin. The heat stimulates the flow of qi (energy) and blood throughout the body, which helps improve circulation and promote healing.

It can also help reduce pain and inflammation.

What Conditions Can Moxibustion Treat?

Moxibustion has the ability to balance and regulate qi, blood and yang energy; expel cold; warm yang energy; and protect against illnesses, helping to ensure overall health and well-being.

The most common usage of a moxa treatment in to turn a breech baby. In this case, indirect moxa is used on a point on the little toe every day for 10 days to turn a baby. It is effective and used by midwives and hospitals in Australia!

Moxibustion can also be used to treat a variety of conditions, including menstrual pain, arthritis in the joints of the fingers, chronic coughs due to cold accumulation in the lungs, digestive problems such as constipation and diarrhea, and bleeding that will not stop.

How Is Moxibustion Applied?

Moxibustion is a therapeutic technique that involves the application of heat to specific acupuncture points on the body. It can be applied in various ways, including holding the lit end of a roll of dried mugwort near but not touching the skin, or placing moxa-infused wool on top of an acupuncture needle or close to the skin and letting it smolder for 10-15 minutes before removing it.

The frequency of treatment depends on the condition being treated – for some conditions it may be administered daily or twice weekly over a series of weeks or months.

Who should perform Moxabustion treatment?

It is important to only undergo moxibustion therapy with the assistance of a certified and qualified professional. If you receive acupuncture treatments, you can consult with your acupuncturist on whether they offer moxibustion services or can refer you to another trusted practitioner.

Moxibustion is a safe and effective form of traditional Chinese medicine therapy that has been used for centuries to treat various ailments ranging from menstrual pain to digestive issues. It works by stimulating qi flow throughout the body and promoting better circulation and improved overall health.

It remains one of our very favorite modalities due to its calming and warming properties, and is a fabulous way to level-up an acupuncture treatment!

Schedule a 15 minute video consultation to learn more about how our team of acupuncturists can support you!

Anna Rudel
San Jose Acupuncturist
408.279.9001
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Spring Into Acupuncture - Acupuncture & Allergies

Spring into Acupuncture!

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With the arrival of spring, we are reminded of the beauty and renewal that comes with the season.

This year, in particular, we have experienced a true, wet winter here in San Jose which is making for a more vibrant and green spring. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), spring is associated with the element ‘Wood’, whose symptoms indicate an imbalance from its natural flow. Read on to find out how TCM can help those suffering from seasonal allergies this year.

The Five Elements Theory in Traditional Chinese Medicine sees five elements—wood, fire, earth, metal, and water—which correspond to different organs.

According to this theory, during springtime (or “wood” season) the Liver organ system is most active and therefore needs proper balance to remain healthy. Symptoms of an unbalanced wood element include headaches and irritability/anger due to stress accumulation during winter. If left unchecked these symptoms can worsen over time leading to more serious illnesses such as depression or chronic fatigue syndrome.

As we move into this spring there is a heightened risk for allergies due to our wet winter.

Allergies are caused by an overly stimulated immune system response to environmental factors such as pollen or dust mites; in turn resulting in inflammation which leads to sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes among other things. To prevent allergies from becoming unmanageable it is best to start treatment sooner rather than later so as not suppress the body’s natural response before it gets worse.

At Lokahi Acupuncture we use both acupuncture and herbal supplements to treat seasonal allergies and restore balance for our patients.

Acupuncture works by stimulating your body’s internal energy systems which helps reduce inflammation while also strengthening your immune system so that it doesn’t overreact when exposed to allergens like pollen or dust mites. We also provide herbal supplements tailored specifically for each patient which target their individual allergy symptoms while restoring balance internally so they can better cope with environmental triggers without having an exaggerated reaction in the future.

Springtime brings growth and renewal but it can also bring out certain imbalances in our bodies if not managed properly or kept in check before they become too severe.

At Lokahi Acupuncture we offer treatments for both acute allergic reactions as well as preventive care through acupuncture and herbal medicine that can help keep you balanced during this season of growth and renewal!

Schedule a 15 minute video consultation to learn more about how our team of acupuncturists can support you this spring!

Anna Rudel
San Jose Acupuncturist
408.279.9001
Follow us on Instagram
Make an Appointment

Can Acupuncture Help My Immune System?

Can Acupuncture / TCM Help My Immune System

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Immune system issues vary widely. 

They range from an underactive immune system (as in recurring colds and heightened susceptibility to infections) to an overactive one (as in allergies or autoimmune disorders, where the body attacks its own tissues).  

What is the immune system anyway? 

Our immune system is our first line of defense, designed to eliminate intruders (pathogens) at the initial stage of invasion before they enter deeper into the body. In Western medicine, you’ll hear about white blood cells that engulf and destroy viruses and bacteria or create antibodies.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we talk about the Wei Qi—the protective energy that wards off External Evils.

The 6 Evils include: 

  • Wind
  • Cold
  • Damp
  • Heat
  • Summer Heat
  • Dryness

The common cold from a TCM perspective: 

Wind-Heat and Wind-Cold 

In Chinese Medicine, we differentiate between two main types of the common cold: a Wind-Heat invasion and a Wind-Cold invasion. There are other variations, including Dampness, but the above-two are the most commonly seen types. 

Depending on whether your body exhibits more signs of Heat (i.e. fever, headache, thirst, sore throat, sharp pain, thick, yellow mucus, redness of the tongue with a yellow coating and a rapid pulse) or Cold (i.e. chills, lack of thirst, scratchy throat, dull pain, thin, clear or white mucus, paleness of the tongue with a white coating and a slow or moderate pulse), we will choose a different treatment strategy.

Either way, our goal is to support your body in releasing the external Evil (pathogen).

Deficiency 

If the body is deficient, we may need to strengthen your system, so it can effectively kick out the invader. Ideally, this strengthening takes place when you are healthy to prevent future illness by tonifying the Wei Qi. It’s akin to reinforcing the outer walls of a fortress to ensure enemies can’t enter. Once inside, more effort is required to kick them back out, and more havoc may be wreaked in the process.

Prevention is always the best medicine!

That said, if an invader does get in, we summon the troops to help win the battle. 

Excess 

An excess pattern is the presence of an external pathogen that has become too much for the body to cope with easily (i.e. excess heat would present with heat symptoms; excess cold would present with all the cold symptoms, and excess damp may present with lots of mucus or chest congestion).

With an excess pattern, we focus on strategies to release and drain, which could include modalities like cupping, scraping, and bleeding (releasing a few drops of blood by pricking the skin with a small, sterile lancet) in addition to acupuncture and herbs.  

When to come in for treatment? 

We can help you feel better faster during the acute stages of a common cold, but the best time to come in is before you get sick! When your stress levels are high, the last thing you may think to do is carve out time for self-care, but that’s exactly when you need it the most—before your body reaches its breaking point! 

If you’re generally quite healthy, monthly maintenance care may help you remain strong.

If, however, you’re the first to catch any cold that goes around, you may want to come in twice a month or weekly for prevention.  

Seasonal Allergies 

Allergies are a sign of the immune system being overactive, tagging benign particles (pollen, dander, dust, etc.) as enemies.  

While we do not suppress the immune system in TCM as some Western therapies do, we aim to modulate it. Some of the acupuncture points we choose can help the body to self-regulate—much like when we treat blood pressure or thyroid issues. We do not suppress or amp up—rather, we support the body in finding its own balance point. 

With allergies, just like the common cold, prevention is key! If you know your allergies kick up every year in the spring, then start coming in for treatment two months prior. 

Autoimmune Disorders 

Autoimmune (AI) disorders are complex, and there’s no one quick fix for them. However, acupuncture can be a very helpful tool in your kit to manage symptoms and improve the quality of your life.  

Much like with seasonal allergies, the goal in treating AI issues is to help an overactive immune system to calm down.

We select points and herbs to reduce inflammation in the body and treat, as always, according to pattern differentiation, based on what we deduce from your tongue, pulse, and unique symptoms. 

If you would like to know more about how acupuncture can help with your specific issue, give us a call for a free 15-minute consultation!

Anna Rudel
San Jose Acupuncturist
408.279.9001
Follow us on Instagram
Make an Appointment