Moxibustion
The literature records on use of moxibustion can be traced back to more than 2000 years ago.
Moxibustion (also called as moxa) is carried out by burning a dried herb commonly called moxa, which is Artemisia Vulgaris, Ai Ye in Chinese and mugwort in English.
Moxibustion can be performed by holding a cigar-shaped moxa stick near acupuncture points; smoldering a cone-shaped moxa roll on the needles; or burning a hand-rolled moxa wool directly on the skin without burning the skin.
Energetically, moxibustion has Yang nature. This means that moxibustion has an ability to penetrate to the energy pathway level; promote the circulation of Qi and blood; to move the stagnation of Qi and blood; and warm the channels and body.
Moxibustion has been successfully used to turn breech babies as a landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found up to 75% of the success rate.
Some Japanese scientists report that moxibustion enhances immunity as it elicits an inflammatory response to the area and promotes the circulation of white blood cells throughout the whole body.
Moxibustion may be performed alone or in combination with acupuncture.