Stress is a common and unavoidable reality of life. As such, people have always looked for ways to relieve, if not completely eliminate, stress from their bodies. When it comes to stress management, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a lot of great solutions to offer. One of them is Moxibustion. 

Moxibustion is a traditional method of TCM therapy that has been around for ages. As a matter of fact, “The Commentary of Zuo” (左傳), written in the Chinese pre-Qin dynasty, is considered to be the earliest literary account of Moxibustion. Despite being around for thousands of years, Moxibustion’s popularity remains. To learn more about this, we are going to discuss further what Moxibustion therapy is and its benefits.

What is Moxibustion Therapy?

Moxibustion is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapy that involves the burning of mugwort (also known as Artemisia Vulgaris) on specific acupoints on the body to enable faster healing. Mugwort is a small, spongy herb that is said to have healing properties when burnt.

There are two main types of Moxibustion: direct Moxibustion and indirect Moxibustion. Direct Moxibustion involves lighting the end of a rolled-up stick of moxa and holding it close to the skin until the heat is felt. Indirect Moxibustion involves placing the lit moxa on top of a herbal substance, such as ginger or garlic, and then placing this preparation on the skin. The heat from the moxa is transferred to the skin through the substance.

Reasons to Undergo Moxibustion or Localised Therapeutic Treatment

Moxibustion therapy is a TCM technique that is widely practised not just in China but also in the regions of Southeast Asia, the Americas, and Europe. This comes as no surprise since Moxibustion is known for having plenty of benefits to one’s health. Here are some of the reasons why you should undergo Moxibustion or localised therapeutic treatment now:

1. Promote the flow of qi

One of the main purposes of Moxibustion therapy is to stimulate the flow of qi. In basic terms, qi refers to the life energy within your body. The heat produced by burning moxa is thought to warm and invigorate the qi in the body, which promotes healing. This boost in circulation can help your body address a wide variety of issues, such as chronic pain and digestive disorders.

2. Improve female health issues

While Moxibustion therapy is beneficial for both men and women, women, in particular, can benefit from Moxibustion. It can help with various female health issues, such as period cramps, menstrual irregularity, and heavy menstrual flow. Furthermore, in a study published in Spandidos Publications in 2021, it was reported that Moxibustion has the ability to prevent or treat numerous ovarian-related problems and enhance overall ovarian function.

3. Relieve pain and aches

As mentioned earlier, Moxibustion is effective in relieving chronic pain. In TCM, a multitude of conditions is related to the concept of “coldness” (e.g. chronic pain, fatigue, joint pain, etc). “Coldness” is considered to be a state in which a person’s body temperature is lower than normal, and their energy flow (known as Qi or chi) is also flowing more slowly than usual. This makes Moxibustion especially effective where the application of heat would naturally assist in alleviating symptoms of “coldness”. The most common types of pain or aches that are believed to be treatable by Moxibustion include back pain, headaches or migraines, menstrual cramps, muscle stiffness, and tendonitis.

4. Strengthen the immune system

Moxibustion therapy has been utilised to enhance the immune system for centuries. Modern research supports this long-held belief, as it shows that Moxibustion is effective in strengthening the body’s immunity by regulating different immune cells and immune factors. In turn, by boosting the immune system, Moxibustion may also be used to combat colds,  flu and other serious illnesses, as well as keep the body healthy.

5. Alleviate mental health issues

Aside from having positive physiological effects, Moxibustion is also great for mental health. As the Chinese classics say, “Moxa can go where the needle cannot.” Here, they are essentially talking about the power of the Moxibustion smoke to treat the spirit.

A study published in the World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion in 2021 provides some scientific evidence. This study demonstrated that Moxibustion, specifically at the yuan-source points of the gallbladder and liver meridians, can help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety and enhance sleep quality.

Conclusion

There are many good reasons why Moxibustion therapy remains a popular TCM technique in modern times despite being around for centuries. Overall, besides strengthening your physical and mental health, Moxibustion has an incredible ability to stimulate the flow of qi, which is important in keeping your body balanced and properly functioning. 

To enjoy the various benefits of Moxibustion, consider going through Lynn Aesthetic’s Therapeutic Treatment now! This treatment employs Moxibustion therapy to facilitate your healing effectively. Apart from this, we also offer an array of other excellent yet affordable treatments, such as our slimming treatment and our anti-wrinkle treatment.

As one of the leading body and facial spa salons in Singapore, Lynn Aesthetic is always seeking to upgrade our skills and knowledge in the field of beauty and wellness. This is why all our treatments are carried out with state-of-the-art equipment. So, what are you waiting for? Reach out to us to book an appointment today.