Moxibustion

Acupuncture has a powerful sister that gets much less attention in the West, called moxibustion.  Ancient and equally potent, acupuncture and moxibustion go hand-in-hand in east Asian traditional healing.  Moxibustion is a form of heat therapy in which dried plant materials called "moxa" are burned on or very near the surface of the skin. The intention is to warm and invigorate the flow of Qi in the body and dispel certain pathogenic influences.

Historically, moxibustion has been used to treat a very wide range of complex illnesses, especially the common problems of old age.  Traditional applications include osteoarthritis, fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, cognitive impairment and urinary problems, to name a few.  Another traditional use of moxa is to treat malposition of the fetus during pregnancy. 

The Science Behind Moxibustion