Moxa or moxibustion is an acupuncture treatment made without needles. It consists in the therapeutic application of heat on acupuncture points. This heat is produced by the combustion of Artemisia, a common herb. Within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) moxa is one of the most important therapeutic methods.
A typical moxa treatment consists in putting an ignited moxa stick near the acupoint, at a distance of 2 or 3 centimeters. The patient feels the warmth, and when it turns to heat he or she tells the therapist, who will move away the stick. This operation is repeated for some minutes on each acupoint.
Main treatments:
- Stiff neck and pain in the neck
- Chronic backache
- Pain in the joints
- Chronic fatigue
- Strengthening of the immune system (in case of recurrent flu or cold)