Moxibustion is a type of acupuncture in which a practitioner applies burning herbs to acupuncture points to stimulate the points and improve the flow of energy in your body.
Moxibustion is a type of traditional Chinese medicine. It involves burning moxa, a cone or stick made of ground mugwort leaves or other herbs, on or near your body’s meridians and acupuncture points.
Practitioners believe that the resulting heat helps stimulate these points and improves your body’s flow of qi (energy). According to traditional Chinese medicine practices, this increased qi circulation can help with various health issues, from chronic pain to digestive troubles.
Read on to learn more about moxibustion, including how it works and the research behind it.
Practitioners can apply moxibustion directly or indirectly.
Direct moxibustion
In direct moxibustion, the moxa cone rests on your body at the treatment point. The practitioner lights the cone and lets it burn slowly until your skin begins to turn warm. Usually, when you begin to feel the heat, the practitioner is already removing it.
Moxa can also be placed on the acupuncture needle and ignited. It burns on the needle until it’s extinguished. The heat travels through the needle to the acupuncture point.
Learn more about how acupuncture works.
Indirect moxibustion
With indirect moxibustion, the burning moxa doesn’t touch your skin. Instead, the practitioner holds it about an inch from your body over an acupuncture point. They remove it once your skin becomes red and warm.
Another method of indirect moxibustion uses an insulating layer of salt or garlic between the cone and your skin. Another option is to have “moxa boxes” filled with moxa, ignited, and placed on the body.
In the United States, only licensed practitioners are authorized to practice acupuncture, including direct moxibustion. Moxibustion is often done alongside acupuncture, and some acupuncturists also do moxibustion.
A licensed acupuncturist must pass the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) exam or complete the NCCAOM program in the foundations of East Asian medicine, acupuncture, and biomedicine. Some certification requirements may differ by state.
The NCCAOM website can help you find licensed acupuncturists who perform moxibustion in your area.
Moxibustion is perhaps best known as an alternative way to help with breech presentation. This happens when a baby is positioned feet-first in the birth canal, which makes the birthing process much more difficult.
Practitioners usually recommend performing moxibustion for breech presentation around 34 weeks with indirect moxibustion around an acupuncture point called Urinary Bladder 67, sometimes called Zhiyin or reaching yin. This spot lies on the outer part of your pinkie toe.
For safety and effectiveness, it’s best to have this done by a professional. Some hospitals, especially in the United Kingdom, even have midwives and obstetricians on staff trained in acupuncture and moxibustion. Acupuncturists should also be licensed by your state.
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The review authors also noted that there still isn’t a ton of high quality research on the subject. They also noted that adverse events following moxibustion were not adequately reported in most of the trials.
Learn about other natural remedies for a breech baby.
People use moxibustion for a range of issues, including:
- gastrointestinal issues, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) type D
- diabetic peripheral neuropathy, though more research is needed to support its use, according to a
2021 review of research - chronic fatigue syndrome, though
more research is needed - post-stroke urinary incontinence, though more research is needed
- allergy symptoms, such as allergic rhinitis, though more research is needed
- side effects of cancer treatment, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy
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- gastrointestinal symptoms caused by cancer or cancer treatment
- myelosuppression or bone marrow suppression
- cancer-related fatigue
- cancer pain
- postoperative lymphedema, or tissue swelling that results from the buildup of lymphatic fluid after a surgical procedure
Not much research on moxibustion is available to support its use for specific health conditions. Larger, high quality studies are still needed to determine the potential benefits.
Moxibustion is
An older 2014 review identified some potential side effects of moxibustion, including:
- allergic reaction to moxa
- sore throat or coughing from moxa smoke
- nausea and vomiting
- fetal distress and premature birth
- dark patches of skin
- basal cell carcinoma
pregnancy precautionsThis review also noted that some women using moxibustion for breech presentation experienced nausea and contractions. Because of this, along with the risk of fetal distress and premature birth, it’s best to do moxibustion under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
Moxibustion is a form of traditional Chinese medicine used for various health issues. Research on moxibustion is currently being performed for additional conditions.
It may be an alternative or complementary option for turning a breech baby, reducing side effects from cancer treatment, or other health concerns. However, additional evidence is still needed to support these and other possible benefits.
If you want to try moxibustion, start by finding an experienced and licensed acupuncturist. The NCCAOM provides board certification for acupuncturists.
