Moxibustion – Moxa Roll and loose Moxa

A frequently asked question about our Acupuncture Training course is what other therapies are taught alongside Acupuncture? There are other therapies in Traditional Chinese Medicine and some of these are taught on our undergraduate Licentiate programme. Others, such as Medical Qigong and Chinese Herbal Medicine, require postgraduate training.

The third and final year of the Licentiate is a clinical training year, with students treating clients under supervision. Part of the year’s learning involves other TCM therapies that are frequently used across TCM clinics. One such treatment is Moxibustion.

What is Moxibustion ? 

Moxibustion has ancient origins having been mentioned in texts as old as 300 BC. It is a form of heat treatment which involves the use of a dried herb usually referred to as  Moxa. It is a form of the herb called Mugwort in Engish. The Moxa used in TCM treatment comes in two main forms, as a moxa stick or in loose form. 

How does it work ? 

The herb, in the form of a moxa stick, is lit and held above a specific acupuncture point to create a therapeutic effect to, for example, remove cold from the body. A trained TCM practitioner can also use loose Moxa on certain acupuncture points in combination with garlic or ginger. Moxa is said to have specific properties which help therapeutic heat to go into the body.

Moxibustion can be used as a stand-alone treatment or combined with Acupuncture and other forms of TCM treatments.

What is it used for ? 

Certain conditions of Cold and Damp are often treated with Moxibustion. It is therefore used more frequently in the Winter time and in countries with Cold and Damp climates. In fact in some extremely cold climates such as in northeast China, it is the main form of Chinese Medical Treatment.

Sometimes an Acupuncture practitioner may guide a client in the use of Moxibustion so the client can make use of a moxa stick at home between appointments.

There are, however, certain Acupuncture points which should never be used with Moxa, and Moxibustion is expressly prohibited for certain Chinese Medical conditions – for example those in which the client has too much Heat in the body.

Traditionally, daily application of Moxibustion treatment to a specific Acupuncture Point, was said to promote longevity.

If you would like to learn more about what is taught on the Licentiate in TCM Acupuncture Training course you can visit the course syllabus page on the ICTCM website. The ICTCM teachings are based on Traditional Chinese Medicine, meaning that it has a classical literary history of more than two thousand years.