Moxibustion is a form of heat therapy used in East Asian medicine to stimulate acupuncture points and the channels of the body without the use of needles.  

An herb, artemisia vulgaris, commonly known as mugwort, and in Chinese medicine referred to as moxa is heated up and then applied on or near specific points on the body, to activate energy in the point, regulate the flow of qi and blood, and bring warmth, or yang energy, into the channels.  

This technique has been around for well over 2000 years, and has been written about extensively in the traditional literature, and is also the subject of quite a bit of modern scientific research.  

One of the most popular uses of moxibustion in modern times is its use in pregnant women to help turn a breech baby into a vertex position to prepare for childbirth and delivery.  The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a study in 1998 showing how moxibustion applied to one specific point (BL-67) was found to be effective at helping turn babies in breech presentation to the correct position, enabling vaginal delivery.  

One of the most wonderful (and practical!) things about moxibustion is that it is a tool that patients can learn to do on themselves, so it can become a very potent part of a self-care regimen, if it is indicated.  With a bit of instructions and guidance from your acupuncturist, moxibustion is something we can all do at home, for ourselves and our loved ones.  It can be very empowering.

Moxibustion is used to address a wide variety of health concerns, depending on the cause and the nature of the imbalance, and may include things like digestive distress, low energy, achy joints, weakened immunity, chronic musculoskeletal injuries that are improved with heat, low libido, swollen ankles, prolapses, feeling excessively cold, excessive uterine bleeding, fertility support, breech baby presentation, post-natal recovery after childbirth… and many other conditions.