Moxibustion
Moxibustion uses a smoldering stick of dried mugwort held above the skin to give steady warmth. It never touches you, and there is no flame near your hair or clothes.
Who usually comes
Women who feel cold at the start of the evening, or who like warmth in the low back or belly, and who are not waking hot. I leave it out if heat is your trouble.
Services
What a visit is like, in order
- 01
Step 1: We decide it suits you
If you wake hot or flush often, we skip moxibustion. It is for people who run cool.
- 02
Step 2: You lie down
On your back or front, covered except for one small area.
- 03
Step 3: I hold the warmth
The stick stays a few inches above the skin and moves. You should feel comfortable warmth, never burning.
- 04
Step 4: You tell me
Say if it is too warm and I move it away at once.
- 05
Step 5: Rest
A short rest under the blanket, a little smoke in the air, then tea.
Before the needles
Tell me first
Six things that change how I treat you or whether I do. Say them even if they seem small.
If you are or might be pregnant
Some points are avoided in pregnancy. I ask you to check with your doctor or midwife first.
If you take a blood thinner
Or have a bleeding disorder. Needles can bleed a little more, so I take extra care or skip some points.
If you have numb skin
Numb areas can't tell you when it is too warm, so I keep the stick away from them.
If you have had lymph nodes removed
Tell me which side. I keep needles and pressure off that arm.
If you are sensitive to smoke
Moxa smoke is light, but it has a smell. Tell me about asthma or allergies and we use a smokeless stick or skip it.
What you take
Medicines, hormone therapy, sleep aids and supplements. Bring a list, and tell your prescriber you are coming.
How many visits, and what this does not do
Moxibustion is usually added to acupuncture for a few visits, then dropped. I suggest how long and we look at it again as we go.
What you may feel afterward
A warm, loose feeling and a faint smell of smoke in your hair. The skin may look a little pink for an hour. Tell me if it stays red.
What it does not do
It does not replace your doctor or your medicines. If you wake hot with night sweats and weight loss, or you have chest pain or a new low mood, see your doctor first.
Ready for a first visit?
Tell me when you are free and I will find you an evening.