Description

Moxibustion is a treatment within traditional Chinese medicine. A practitioner burns the herb “moxa” on or above the skin to warm and stimulate specific points on the body. Practitioners use moxibustion either as a stand-alone therapy or in combination with acupuncture. In traditional Chinese medicine, moxibustion aims to stimulate the body’s flow of vital energy or “qi” and remove toxins. Western practitioners may use moxibustion to help alleviate pain and inflammation from various ailments. However, there is insufficient scientific evidence to support its effectiveness. This article describes what moxibustion is and how it works, including its potential uses. It also describes how practitioners perform moxibustion and discusses this complementary therapy’s safety and effectiveness.