Moxabustion brings deep warmth into the body through the burning of a small cone of a dried plant, Artemesia Vulgaris, on or near an acupuncture point. It is an ancient Chinese technique used to treat conditions due to invasion of the body by environmental cold or dampness.

The cone may be placed on an acupuncture needle or directly on the skin and is burned until the patient feels the heat, and then removed. This may be repeated several times and provides a pleasant warm sensation. The effect is to break up dampness, making it amenable for bodily functions to excrete it from the body.

Moxabustion is applicable for any condition where the symptoms are worse when conditions are cold or are better with penetrating heat. Among the common conditions caused by cold and damp invasion is Sciatica. Dampness accumulating in the lower back, buttocks and thighs blocks the flow of energy – Qi – and this stagnation causes severe pain which shoots down the legs, causing the patient to be guarded in their movement. Moxabustion on the acupuncture points in these areas brings deep heat into the channels and helps clear the dampness and restore normal flow of Qi, addressing the cause of the pain.

The most publicised use of moxabustion is to turn breach babies when applied to the little toe. This mechanism is so effective that many western hospitals retain the services of acupuncturists to carry out the procedure, especially where the mother wishes to follow a natural approach.