Moxa

The Moxa therapy comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It is a kind of acupuncture and is therefore also called heatpuncture. Wherever there is a so-called emptiness and warmth is welcome, Moxa can bring help.

contents

Moxa herb - mugwort herb
Historical review
Basics of Moxa Therapy
When Moxa is applied
Types of moxa
Direct moxa with skin contact
Direct moxin without skin contact
Indirect moxa with an intermediate layer of ginger
Indirect moxin with salt, healing earth, paper
Moxa herb - qualities
Moxakügelchen
(Unnamed)
Moxanadel
Moxakasten
Moxen on acupuncture points
No therapy for self-treatment
Moxibustion in pregnancy
When should not be textboxed

Moxa herb - mugwort herb

In moxa therapy, mugwort, lat. Artemisia vulgaris, is used. Many effective substances are contained in this herb. The mugwort is one of the asteraceae and is externally a rather inconspicuous appearance. However, mugwort was used for healing already in antiquity and the Middle Ages. In TCM this is still a very important remedy. Artemisia vulgaris has an antibacterial, antifungal, antispasmodic, circulation-promoting, soothing, digestive and appetite-free.

Historical review

Grave finds indicate that about 9000 to 4000 BC. Chr. Already moxa was applied. Even then people realized that applying heat can have a positive effect on the body. The form of therapy developed further and today is an indispensable part of TCM. This is a suitable therapy especially for illnesses in which the persons concerned long for warmth. Added to this is the effect of the essential oils that are found in mugwort.

Nowadays, moxa is best known in midwifery practice. There, this therapy is used to a, located in the breech (breech) child in the womb, to turn to move.

In naturopathy, the Moxa therapy is used successfully against various complaints. Image: Monika Wisniewska / fotolia.com

Basics of Moxa Therapy

In order to use Moxa, the therapist first has to be aware of whether this treatment is suitable in the case of existing symptoms. In TCM there is talk here of emptiness and / or coldness. For example, a cold that is in a suit requires warmth, a stomach tea will drink a hot herbal tea, and when muscles ache, sufferers put a warmed dinkel sack on the affected area. These are examples of the use of Moxa therapy. The added heat stimulates the blood circulation, dispels cold and wetness, the lymph flows faster and pain-causing substances can thus leave the tissue faster, where the pH value changes for the better.

When Moxa is applied

Moxa stimulates the self-healing powers. Negative, pathogenic energies should escape from the body. The Qi (life energy) is heated and brought over the meridians to the individual organs. Moxa therapy is used in yin states or when there is too little of yang. Yin and Yang are two opposing principles that are not mutually exclusive, but complementary and need each other. For example, Yin's qualities include coldness, emptiness, night, moon, femininity, moisture, whereas Yang carries abundance, heat, day, sun, maleness, and dryness. Both yin diseases and yang deficiency states are in urgent need of heat. If the patient already has too much heat in the body, however, no case should be flogged.

Assuming that heat is missing and / or moisture and / or emptiness is the cause, moxibustion can treat diseases such as edema, bronchial asthma, diarrhea, genitourinary diseases, immune deficiency, circulatory disorders and fatigue.

Types of moxa

The mugwort herb used in moxa therapy is used in the form of cones, cigars, cones or as open cabbage. Depending on the indication, a wide variety of species are used.

Direct moxa with skin contact

In this case, working with the moxa with direct skin contact. This is a common method, especially in China. Cones are formed from mugwort, these are placed directly on the skin and then burned there. This requires great responsibility and caution. The therapist should monitor the process to be able to intervene at any time to prevent burns.

The molded mug handles have different sizes as needed. So these may be as small as a grain of rice or as big as a cherry.

Direct moxin without skin contact

This species also uses individually shaped moxa gel. However, unlike the direct moxa with skin contact, these are not burned off directly on the skin, but held with tweezers. This method is safer and milder.

Indirect moxa with an intermediate layer of ginger

It can be mixed with a variety of liners, which can enhance the effect of heat application or change it. The various liners are chosen according to the disease or symptom. For example, ginger or garlic slices can enhance the effect of heat through their contained essential oils.
For headaches, a slice of ginger is stung several times and placed on the appropriate acupuncture point in the middle of the temples. Then comes the moxa gel and is lit. Ginger is able to channel cold and activate qi. Other indications for the use of ginger are upper abdominal pain, weakness, loss of appetite and rheumatism.

A garlic interlayer creates a strong stimulus and is used for lymphatic inflammation, boils, chronic tonsillitis and back pain.

Indirect moxin with salt, healing earth, paper

Salt is especially useful when the navel is being muffled. This is then filled with salt, over it comes moistened paper and on it the burning Moxa cone. The navel is muffled with the desire to have children, pain in the gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea, distended abdomen and irritable bowel.
Healing earth can also be used as an intermediate layer. This is mixed with some water to a solid slurry and applied to the site to be treated. Above it comes the burning cone. The healing clay is able to store the heat and then release it into the tissue. This is a particularly promising method for edema and boils.

With a liner made of paper, the heat effect can be easily alleviated. The paper takes the tip of the heat and a cozy warmth can spread. Caution is advised, because the paper could start to burn.

In the meantime, ready-to-use moxa bags are available, which are provided with a paper-cardboard overlay and can be glued onto the acupuncture points.

Moxa herb - qualities

Moxa herb in fine wool quality is responsible for a mild, pleasant warmth and is mainly used in sensitive areas as well as in chronic diseases. The rough quality, on the other hand, gives off a more aggressive heat. This treatment is more suitable for more robust patients with more robust skin. Here the heat is in the foreground.

Moxakügelchen

Beetle weed is used to form moxa beads, which are used both directly and indirectly.

moxa cigar

Most commonly used in moxa therapy is the moxa cigar. Thus, the distance to the skin can be well controlled and also changed to dose the heat effect individually. The moxa cigar looks like a fat cigar, except that it contains no tobacco, but rolled mugwort weed. The envelope of the cigar is made of fine, flammable paper. The moxa cigar is available in a wide range of price categories and qualities. For treatment, the cigar is lit and put into an airtight container after use. It can be used several times, with the ash to be cut off before use. The smaller version is the Moxa cigarette, whose burning time is shorter.

Moxanadel

A small hat, made of mugwort, is attached to an acupuncture needle and then lit. During treatment, heat enters the body via the needle. It is very important that the process is supervised. A bowl and tweezers should always be ready.

Moxakasten

This is a small box, mostly made of wood, which has a sieve-like bottom. In it moxa herb is burned down. The moxa box is suitable for larger areas of skin.

Moxen on acupuncture points

If the prerequisite for moxing is given, it can be hacked everywhere. However, acupuncture points are usually chosen for the treatment. These special points are located on so-called meridians, these are interconnections in which, according to the teachings of TCM, the life energy flows.

No therapy for self-treatment

Moxa therapy should always be performed by an experienced therapist. Before the treatment, a detailed medical history will decide if Moxa is the right therapy. This heatpuncture requires care and caution. Because it is handled with fire, the patient is never left alone, but always supervised the complete treatment.

Moxibustion in pregnancy

In Chinese medicine there is the possibility to move the child, which is in pelvic end position, with the help of moxes to rotate. Experienced midwives use the moxa cigar to stimulate a specific point on the little toe.

When should not be textboxed

There are lists of contraindications listing all acupuncture points that should never be gemoated. Moxa therapy should not be used on the eyes, in the neck, near varicose veins or other superficial vessels, on open wounds, in diabetes, red blood pressure, in the vaginal area and in infants. Likewise should not be mistreated in fever, infectious diseases, after heavy meals, directly after operations and in alcoholized patients. Pregnant women should never be treated in the area of ​​the abdomen.

Moxa therapy is still something "mystical" to many. Just the smell of mugwort herb takes some getting used to, but not unpleasant. In many naturopathic practices, moxa is part of the daily bread and is often used successfully there. (Sw)