Traditionally in Chinese medicine acupuncture and moxibustion have always gone together. In fact the term acupuncture is really a western term, the Chinese term was a compound word zhen jiu, zhen meaning needle, and jiu meaning burn for a long time, i.e. moxibustion.

Moxibustion is performed by burning the herb artemisia vulgaris. This herb when dried and rolled can be put on the head of a needle or made into a stick.
There are several methods of application and our clinic uses moxa rolls, moxa on needles, moxa on ginger, moxa tabs etc. It burns very slow and very hot.

This herb is said to:

dispel cold,

dispel damp,

warm the channels

and relieve pain.

Some common uses in clinic would be for chronic, long term conditions, low back pain with a background of what in TCM is referred to as kidney yang deficient cold, or wind cold damp obstructing the channels. Also, for some women with infertility with a diagnosis of cold obstructing the uterus.

Modern scientific research has shown that moxibustion has effects on the immune system, analgesia, kidneys, colitis, ulcers, neurons, and gene expression.