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Moxa Sticks and Their Use in Traditional Chinese Medicine by Ben Tweedle
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Moxa Sticks and Their Use in Traditional Chinese Medicine |
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Health,Fitness
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Moxa is Chinese medicine made from dried mugwort. This medicine is used in traditional Chinese therapy known as moxibustion. The mugwort is aged then grid up to fluff. The fluff is burnt in a cigar shaped stick, known as moxa stick. It is either used indirectly or directly on a patient,i.e. it can be used with acupuncture needles or burnt directly on the patients' skin. Though moxibustion is a word of Japanese origin, it does not mean this medicine is only available in Japan. This traditional medicine is available in Korea, China,Mongolia and Vietnam. Moxa sticks are used to warm acupuncture points, while stimulating smooth flow of blood. Mugwort sticksare believed to stimulate blood flow in the uterus and pelvic area. While this is just a belief, practitioners use moxa sticks to treat chronic conditions. Mugwort sticks are believed to add energy to the body to treat deficient excess conditions. Acupuncture needles can be made with moxa and other materials. Methods of Using Moxa Sticks: 1. Direct scarring: this is the incorporation of mugwort in therapy. A small cone of mugwort is placed on the patients’ skin; at a point believed to be an acupuncture point. The point is left to blister and it scars as it heals. 2. Direct non-scarring moxibustion is where a practitionerremoves the burning mugwort before the skin burns to blister. In this method the mugwort is not allowed to burn for long. 3. Indirect moxibustion is done using acupuncture needles. The moxa stick is held near an acupuncture point, close enough to the skin to heat it. The acupuncture needle is then inserted in the skin and heat in the process. RESEARCH MADE: Although research in moxibustion has not been proven, there are several moxibustion beliefs or research. These have seen moxa being used in Western medicine. In China moxa was believed to increase the positioning of fetuses in a breech position. It is also believed to be safer than the external cephalic version. This research has not been proven due to the questions arising about the efficiency and safety of moxibustion. Another study; though it was not concluded due to efficiency, is the treatment of colitis. It is believed moxibustion can treat ulcerative colitis. Moxibustion is useful as a treatment of stroke patientsthough lack of enough evidence to conclude the effectiveness of this study has made it inconclusive. In some countries mugwort is a sacred plant. It is used for divination and spiritual healing. This is in regions of South and North America. Residents of Southern California use mugwort for rituals. Europeans place the moxa sticks or mugwort under pillows to provoke dreams. For Anglo-Saxon residents the mugwort is used for magic practices. There are different kinds of mugwort sticks depending on the origin and the packaging of the mugwort. The sticks are readily available at reasonable prices. The fact that they can be sold in small quantities makes it affordable for patients.
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