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| Traditional Japanese Moxa (Wikimedia) |
Did you know that Moxa can turn a baby upside down?
The first modern scientific publication on moxibustion was written by the Japanese physician Hara ShimetarÅ who conducted intensive research about the hematological effects of moxibustion in 1927. Two years later his doctoral dissertation on that matter was accepted by the Medical Faculty of the Kyushu Imperial University.
Randomized controlled trials have found that moxibustion combined with external versioning (placing hands on the mother's abdominals to slowly move the baby upside down) may be effective at changing breech presentation of babies. This mechanism proposes that moxibustion causes the release of placental estrogen and prostaglandins which lead to uterine contractions that change the baby's position.
Moxa as a treatment for tennis players with elbow pain.
Acupuncture and moxibustion have widely been used to treat lateral elbow pain (LEP).
Lateral elbow pain (LEP), commonly known as tennis elbow, is a common disorder with a prevalence of at least 1-3% among the general population. It is a significant health burden because it affects work productivity and the quality of life of LEP sufferers. Currently there is no ideal treatment for LEP. The most common treatments for LEP are steroid injections, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or a regime of physiotherapy with various modalities.
Steroid injections have a short-term (two to six weeks) effect in improving symptoms whereas NSAIDs have a smaller effect than steroid injections. Evidence is lacking for the efficacy of physiotherapy.
Furthermore, there is no evidence regarding the efficacy in the long term use of current conservative treatment options, and the potential side effects such as skin atrophy and depigmentation [6] limit the use of steroid injections. The need for a safe and effective treatment for LEP is therefore paramount.
Moderate quality studies suggest that acupuncture is more effective than sham acupuncture. Furthermore, using stick-on moxa enables such interpretations of findings regarding acupuncture vs. conventional treatment. Acupuncture and moxibustion combined vs. manual acupuncture alone are limited by the methodological qualities of these studies.
Future studies with improved methodological design are warranted to confirm the efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion for LEP.
Full article available here.
Lateral elbow pain (LEP), commonly known as tennis elbow, is a common disorder with a prevalence of at least 1-3% among the general population. It is a significant health burden because it affects work productivity and the quality of life of LEP sufferers. Currently there is no ideal treatment for LEP. The most common treatments for LEP are steroid injections, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or a regime of physiotherapy with various modalities.
Steroid injections have a short-term (two to six weeks) effect in improving symptoms whereas NSAIDs have a smaller effect than steroid injections. Evidence is lacking for the efficacy of physiotherapy.
Furthermore, there is no evidence regarding the efficacy in the long term use of current conservative treatment options, and the potential side effects such as skin atrophy and depigmentation [6] limit the use of steroid injections. The need for a safe and effective treatment for LEP is therefore paramount.
Moderate quality studies suggest that acupuncture is more effective than sham acupuncture. Furthermore, using stick-on moxa enables such interpretations of findings regarding acupuncture vs. conventional treatment. Acupuncture and moxibustion combined vs. manual acupuncture alone are limited by the methodological qualities of these studies.
Future studies with improved methodological design are warranted to confirm the efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion for LEP.
Full article available here.
Moxa not for pregnant women
Moxa (mugwort) is nontoxic and is non-neurotoxic when inhaled.
However, expectant mothers should absolutely refrain from approaching moxa as not enough studies have been done on the effects of moxa on pregnancy.
However, expectant mothers should absolutely refrain from approaching moxa as not enough studies have been done on the effects of moxa on pregnancy.
How Mini Moxa is applied on a Needle
This ancient method of moxa therapy was first described in the Shanghan Lun also known as Treatise on cold damage disorders. This technique is to warm a needle by burning a small amount of mugwort (moxa).
Loose moxa is compacted using fingers and placed on the tail of the needle. The moxa is ignited from the side and secured at the end of the needle close to the skin. In ancient times, precut moxa rolls were not readily available so this process was difficult to achieve. Now, precut mini moxa rolls can be easily purchased and applied without hassle.
A sheet of kleenex can be placed on the skin to prevent burning ashes from falling on the patient. Mini moxa, when applied on the needle helps to warm the channels to allow qi and blood to flow while dispelling stagnation.
This technique is generally used for the following symptoms:
- Cold and wind damp conditions, such as arthritis
- Cold, weak, or numb limbs
- Abdominal distention
- Diarrhea
Areas for caution:
- Not to be used for patients with high blood pressure.
- Be aware of convulsions, spasms, or cramps if the needle is placed stationary for extended periods of time.
Treating Asthma with Moxa?
Yes, It's possible!
Treatment of asthma requires that stick on moxa be placed on the upper back and burnt. In this treatment, the moxa burns all the way down and may cause slight scarring that disappears through time.
Why the effectiveness?
Treatment of asthma requires that stick on moxa be placed on the upper back and burnt. In this treatment, the moxa burns all the way down and may cause slight scarring that disappears through time.
Why the effectiveness?
Moxa treats a deficiency of ‘yang’ energy in the body. Yang governs movement and warmth and the patient may feel cold, or may complain of cold hands and feet. For patients who are very weak and deficient, stick on moxa is chosen as a primary treatment due to the fact that it actually adds “yang qi” to the body.
Asthma is known to affect the body's yang energy and the ability to replenish warmth. Moxa compensates for this lost of yang.
The following video provides an Introduction to Moxibustion by Los Angeles acupuncturist Antonia Balfour.
Asthma is known to affect the body's yang energy and the ability to replenish warmth. Moxa compensates for this lost of yang.
The following video provides an Introduction to Moxibustion by Los Angeles acupuncturist Antonia Balfour.
Smokeless vs Non-smokeless?
Smokeless vs Non-smokeless Moxa
Some people prefer non-smokeless version. What's the difference besides the smoke? The original version used in traditional Chinese medicine releases a strong odor and smoke that is almost unbearable for Western medicine. In fact, the smoke is so strong that sometimes it may trip the fire alarm.
This is why most Moxa that is sold in the United States and Europe are already toned down versions of Moxa sticks. That said, some people even prefer the smokeless version.
The smoke from a burning Moxa however, is essential to the treatment and effectiveness of Moxa. This is why doctors generally recommend the non-smokeless version of Moxa sticks. When choosing either smokeless or non-smokeless versions, remember to ask yourself can you and your patients accept the odor? Remember, Moxa causes a lingering odor that may or may not be of nuance to you.
Whenever possible, always choose the non-smokeless version.
The Moxa Stick
The Moxa Stick
The 'moxa stick' is the most common form in which moxibustion is used to promote healing. Here the dried mugwort is rolled up tightly and wrapped in paper forming a cigar-like stick. The moxa stick can be held in one place and rotated in circles in a motion over the area of an acupuncture point. The practitioner places a finger next to the point being stimulated to maintain a comfortable level of heat and to guard the patient from the unlikely risk of burn.
The moxa stick is held approximately a half inch from the skin, although this may vary from patient to patient. Moxa sticks can be used on their own to stimulate an acupuncture point or can be used on a point where an acupuncture needle has been inserted. This simultaneous use of moxibustion along with the acupuncture needle intensifies the therapeutic benefit of the given acupuncture point.
The 'moxa stick' is the most common form in which moxibustion is used to promote healing. Here the dried mugwort is rolled up tightly and wrapped in paper forming a cigar-like stick. The moxa stick can be held in one place and rotated in circles in a motion over the area of an acupuncture point. The practitioner places a finger next to the point being stimulated to maintain a comfortable level of heat and to guard the patient from the unlikely risk of burn.
The moxa stick is held approximately a half inch from the skin, although this may vary from patient to patient. Moxa sticks can be used on their own to stimulate an acupuncture point or can be used on a point where an acupuncture needle has been inserted. This simultaneous use of moxibustion along with the acupuncture needle intensifies the therapeutic benefit of the given acupuncture point.
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