My Adventure with Moxa

Regular acupuncture treatments are part of my self-care routine, and, while many people use acupuncture for a specific condition, I go for general 'good health' support. This means that each visit we discuss what's been happening since the last session, and my acupuncturist devises a treatment in the moment to help realign me.

This time some of my pulses were low, and I was sent home with moxa sticks to continue treatment over the next 3 days. Moxa ("moxibustion") uses dried mugwort to warm acupunture points, and comes in two forms- direct and indirect. Indirect moxa involves a cigar-sized bundle of mugwort wafted over and held near the skin, whereas direct uses incense cones directly on the skin.

My acupuncturist gave me 3 pairs of direct moxa cones with instructions to use them first thing in the morning. She drew a dot on my foot where she wanted them placed and told me to line up the hole in the bottom of the cone with the dot. The hexagonal base has a gentle adhesive on it so it stays on my skin. I light the cone and let it smoke away until it burns down, easy peasy! There's no pain, though she did say if they get hot to remove them.

After 3 days, I'm very proud  for remembering to treat myself each morning! And I feel better, more grounded. The fatigue this was addressing made me feel skittery and that has eased up, almost like I have enough energy to rest now.  This is yet another positive experience to recommend acupuncture to the uninitiated! It's really a great healing method.