Materials and Methods- Moxa

Moxa: Mugwart (Latin name: Artemesia Vulgaris)

Direct
1. scarring
2. non-scarring

Indirect
1. Heat transfer medium
2. Moxa Pole
3. Moxa instrument
4. Warming Needle

Moxa- method burning moxa on or above the skin

• Heat conducted through channels that the flow of blood and qi is stimulated, normal qi is strengthened, and EPF eliminated.
• Can be used with or without needles
• Made from mugwart
• Yang in nature
• Moxa is warm, bitter, and acrid
• resolves dampness
• adds warmth
• plant is dried and aged
• older the better

Uses:

1. dispell cold and dampness (warms meridians)
2. restores yang qi
3. induces flow of qi to go up or down
4. used as preventative and strengthening of qi

Direct Moxa
Non-scarring

1. Moxa Cone (3-5 cones)- used for chronic, deficient, cold conditions
   

• Place on flat table, form pyramid
• press tightly
  
• good size
• wet the botton, place on skin and light top

Indirect Moxa

1. Heat Transfer Medium- something in between skin and moxa

• Ginger- punch holes though ginger, medium sized cone, remove when done burning or too hot, reuse ginger, and repeat 3-7 times
• Salt- open gauze and place on navel, make bowl, add salt. repeat 3-5 times from feeling heat. first couple times, may not feel heat. effective for - cold type diarrhea, acute pain (abdominal)
  

1. Moxa Pole- sparrow pecking or move up and down the channel
   
2. Moxa Instrument- for coarse moxa (wave over the body)
   
3. Warming Needle- moxa on handle of the needle- repeat 2-5 times

How to choose what moxa to use:

1. depends on condition
2. constitution
3. site of application

Precautions:

1. avoid burning and discomfort
2. no moxa with high fever or excess heat conditions
3. do not use on numbness
4. no moxa on face
5. don't use with high blood pressure
6. not on abs or lower back of pregnant women
7. some points prohibit moxa

Reasons for use

1. cold
2. diarrhea
3. arthritus