Contraindications and Safety

Do NOT use moxa on:

High fever or excess Heat

May worsen Heat condition

Yin deficiency with empty Heat

May aggravate night sweats, restlessness

Inflamed or infected areas

Heat may spread inflammation

Abdomen/lumbosacral area of pregnancy

Risk of stimulating uterus

Face and head (usually avoided)

Heat too intense and close to sensory organs

Enclosed moxa placed over larger areas (e.g., low back, abdomen). Used for chronic Cold, infertility, menstrual issues.

Warm Moxa Box / Moxa Burner
(温灸盒)

Modern innovations for clinical and home use. Useful for asthma, arthritis, and fatigue. Avoid smoke and odour issues.

Smokeless Moxa / Infrared Devices

Cigar-like roll of mugwort burned and held about 2–5 cm above the skin. Most versatile and common method. Used to warm points, relieve pain, tonify Qi. Safe and comfortable with practitioner control

Moxa Stick
(艾条)

Moxa is placed on the handle of an inserted acupuncture needle. Heat travels down the needle to deeper layers. Enhances effect of tonification.

Needle Moxibustion (针灸灸法)

Moxa cone is placed directly on the skin (with or without a barrier). Not commonly used today due to risk of burns, except in specialized settings
- Scarring moxa (cauterizing 灼灸): cone burns to skin → blister → scar (used historically)
- Non-scarring moxa (mild 温灸): cone removed before it burns the skin.

Direct Moxibustion
(直接灸)

Most common method today. Moxa is burned near the skin, with a barrier such as:
- Ginger slice (姜灸): warms Stomach and Yang
- Garlic slice (蒜灸): clears toxins, for abscesses.
- Salt (盐灸): on navel, tonifies Yang, used for collapse.
- Monkshood / aconite cake (附子灸): strongly tonifies Kidney Yang

Indirect Moxibustion (间接灸)

What is Moxibustion?

Moxibustion (灸, jiǔ) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy that involves the burning of dried mugwort (Artemisia argyi, 艾叶 / ài yè) near or on specific acupuncture points or meridians to warm, tonify, and stimulate Qi and Blood circulation.

It is often used in conjunction with acupuncture but can also be applied alone. Moxibustion is especially effective for conditions caused by Cold, Yang deficiency, or Qi and Blood stagnation. abscesses.