MOXIBUSTION THERAPY
Moxa or Artemisia Vulgaris (Mugwort) is an herb that is commonly applied to acupuncture treatment in both Chinese and Japanese acupuncture. Moxibustion is the technique of burning the mugwort which has been dried, sifted and cured for several years to help stimulate the acupuncture points or enhance the treatment effects by warming the meridians or “turbocharging” certain specific points.
Moxibustion may be applied on the body using different mediums including using a hollowed bamboo to create a gentle vacuum over affected muscles, over the navel using a slice of ginger or garlic or salt for digestive issues, and in stainless steel devices called tiger and lion warmers for the joints or larger muscles. When applied to specific acupuncture points, the moxa can be either burned directly on the needle handle, a technique known as Kytoshin or directly on the point on the skin using a sesame oil paste or, Okyu. The gentle yet powerful warming and stimulating effects of moxibustion help invigorate the channels by promoting the flow of blood and qi and to help relieve pain and enhance the therapeutic effects of certain points.
* Although this technique is done in a ventilated area, please inform your acupuncturist if you have any sensitivity to smoke or incense. Moxibustion may not be appropriate for patients with elevated blood pressure, hot flashes or diabetes.
Moxibustion for breech presentation:
Did you know that moxibustion can be applied safely to a specific acupuncture point on the feet to help turn a breech baby? Evidence suggests that moxibustion—when combined with either acupuncture or postural techniques—is a safe and painless technique which greatly increases the chances of turning a breech baby. This technique should always be done by a licensed acupuncturist and can be done in just a few sessions. The treatment window for this technique is slightly narrow with the best results usually being achieved around gestational weeks 33 to 35. It is usually recommended to receive concurrent acupuncture treatment as soon as you find out that your baby is breeched. Ideally you would come into the clinic 1-2 times a week for treatment and you will also be given moxa sticks and instruction for their use at home if needed. Our protocol involves moxa treatment 2 times a day for 15 minutes for a course of 7 days (or until the baby turns).
What are the chances that it will work?
In one study, where moxa and acupuncture were compared to no intervention, 75.4% of the women treated with acupuncture and moxibustion had a cephalic presentation vs 47.7% of the control group. Both groups were offered external cephalic versions and results included the successful versions.
In addition to the recommendations here, we encourage all pregnant women to take advantage of Labor Ripening acupuncture treatments starting at week 36 to help get your body ready for labor and delivery. Prenatal acupuncture done in the last weeks of pregnancy can significantly reduce the need for interventions such as epidurals and emergency C-Sections.
Sources:
Neri I1, Airola G, Contu G, Allais G, Facchinetti F, Benedetto C. (2004). Acupuncture plus moxibustion to resolve breech presentation: a randomized controlled study. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2004 Apr;15(4):247-52.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15280133
Cardini F. & Weixin H. (1998). Moxibustion for correction of breech presentation: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 280(18), 1580-1584.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/188144
https://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz/acupuncture/research/moxabustion-breech/
Moxa or Artemisia Vulgaris (Mugwort) is an herb that is commonly applied to acupuncture treatment in both Chinese and Japanese acupuncture. Moxibustion is the technique of burning the mugwort which has been dried, sifted and cured for several years to help stimulate the acupuncture points or enhance the treatment effects by warming the meridians or “turbocharging” certain specific points.
Moxibustion may be applied on the body using different mediums including using a hollowed bamboo to create a gentle vacuum over affected muscles, over the navel using a slice of ginger or garlic or salt for digestive issues, and in stainless steel devices called tiger and lion warmers for the joints or larger muscles. When applied to specific acupuncture points, the moxa can be either burned directly on the needle handle, a technique known as Kytoshin or directly on the point on the skin using a sesame oil paste or, Okyu. The gentle yet powerful warming and stimulating effects of moxibustion help invigorate the channels by promoting the flow of blood and qi and to help relieve pain and enhance the therapeutic effects of certain points.
* Although this technique is done in a ventilated area, please inform your acupuncturist if you have any sensitivity to smoke or incense. Moxibustion may not be appropriate for patients with elevated blood pressure, hot flashes or diabetes.
Moxibustion for breech presentation:
Did you know that moxibustion can be applied safely to a specific acupuncture point on the feet to help turn a breech baby? Evidence suggests that moxibustion—when combined with either acupuncture or postural techniques—is a safe and painless technique which greatly increases the chances of turning a breech baby. This technique should always be done by a licensed acupuncturist and can be done in just a few sessions. The treatment window for this technique is slightly narrow with the best results usually being achieved around gestational weeks 33 to 35. It is usually recommended to receive concurrent acupuncture treatment as soon as you find out that your baby is breeched. Ideally you would come into the clinic 1-2 times a week for treatment and you will also be given moxa sticks and instruction for their use at home if needed. Our protocol involves moxa treatment 2 times a day for 15 minutes for a course of 7 days (or until the baby turns).
What are the chances that it will work?
In one study, where moxa and acupuncture were compared to no intervention, 75.4% of the women treated with acupuncture and moxibustion had a cephalic presentation vs 47.7% of the control group. Both groups were offered external cephalic versions and results included the successful versions.
In addition to the recommendations here, we encourage all pregnant women to take advantage of Labor Ripening acupuncture treatments starting at week 36 to help get your body ready for labor and delivery. Prenatal acupuncture done in the last weeks of pregnancy can significantly reduce the need for interventions such as epidurals and emergency C-Sections.
Sources:
Neri I1, Airola G, Contu G, Allais G, Facchinetti F, Benedetto C. (2004). Acupuncture plus moxibustion to resolve breech presentation: a randomized controlled study. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2004 Apr;15(4):247-52.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15280133
Cardini F. & Weixin H. (1998). Moxibustion for correction of breech presentation: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 280(18), 1580-1584.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/188144
https://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz/acupuncture/research/moxabustion-breech/