Moxibustion.

What it is

Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy that warms acupuncture points with smoldering dried mugwort, called moxa. In TCM theory, the heat warms the meridians, eases cold and helps qi and blood flow. It's often paired with acupuncture and has been practiced for thousands of years.

The moxa can be held near the skin as a stick, placed as a small cone or set on top of an acupuncture needle. It feels like gentle, spreading warmth. People use it for pain that worsens in the cold, digestive weakness and, with an obstetric provider's approval, a breech baby.

What happens at a visit

1. A TCM assessment and choice of acupuncture points.
2. A moxa stick held near the skin, or small cones placed on or near it.
3. A pleasant, spreading warmth; tell the practitioner if it feels too hot.
4. A distinctive herbal smell from the burning mugwort.
5. About 15 to 30 minutes of treatment.
6. Brief redness at the treated spots is common.
7. Many people feel relaxed and warm afterward.

Who it is for

• People who often feel cold, with cold hands or feet
• People with digestive weakness or low energy
• People with chronic pain that worsens in the cold
• Pregnant people with a breech baby, with their obstetric provider's approval
• People getting acupuncture
• People drawn to traditional Chinese medicine

Evidence and safety

The best-studied use is for breech presentation, where trials suggest moxibustion may help turn the baby, though study quality varies. Evidence for other uses is limited and rests largely on tradition and practitioner experience. With a trained acupuncturist it is safe, but burns are possible, and the smoke can bother people with asthma or other lung conditions. During pregnancy, use it only for breech and only with your obstetric provider's approval.

How Gabriel helps