It is a form of fire heat treatment that stimulates specific acupuncture points of the body. The term is derived from the Japanese "mogusa" meaning herb (mugwort) and the Latin "bustion" meaning burning.

Moxibustion is believed to have originated in the northern part of China. In Mongolia, where winters are dominated by icy chilliness and wind, moxibustion has been used to treat various illnesses and degenerative diseases due to the extreme cold climate.

There are various moxibustion techniques.
Direct moxibustion:
A small, cone-shaped amount of moxa is placed on top of an acupuncture point and burned on the skin. Direct moxibustion is a traditional technique considered to be very therapeutic. Much of the scientific study has been done on scarring direct moxibustion. The effectiveness of direct moxibustion particularly on immune function has been reported as early as 1927 by Dr. Shimetaro Hara, at the
Kyushu University in Japan. Presently however, direct moxibustion is not performed routinely outside of Japan, as it may have some undesirable effects such as blistering, burn marks, and even scarring at the moxibustion site. In an attempt to prevent skin damage, some acupuncturists place a medium (slice of ginger, topical paste, etc.) between the skin and the burning moxa or extinguish the burning moxa just before it reaches the skin. The possible effect derived from this type of moxibustion  (sometimes referred to as non-scarring direct moxibustion or categorized as indirect moxibustion) should not be considered the same as the scarring direct moxibustion since the main effect of direct
moxibustion is considered to result from actual damage to the skin (thus stimulating the release of immunological mediators resulting in a healing reaction).

Indirect moxibustion:
Currently, the more popular form of moxibustion in many countries including China is the indirect form, because there is a much lower risk of pain or burning. In indirect moxibustion, a practitioner lights one end of a moxa stick (roughly the shape and size of a cigar) and holds it an inch or two away from the skin, usually around the inserted needles to bring mild warmth to the area without burning, until the skin becomes slightly red. The intensity of the heat is adjusted according to the patient’s condition and comfort.
Indirect moxa is considered to induce a gradual localized vasodilatation response. In addition to increasing the local blood flow, skillful indirect moxibustion is extremely comforting and can create a deep relaxation response.

Needle Moxa Technique:
This technique used to be quite popular in Japan. With the needle moxa technique, the heat intensity is much harder to control than the moxa stick method. Contrary to commonly held belief, moxa heat conducted through the needle is very minute and insignificant. Most of the heat is actually through reflective heat just like the moxa stick method.

What is moxibustion good or not good for?
Moxibustion therapy in conjunction with acupuncture can be very effective for many diseases and conditions including back pain, muscle stiffness, headaches, migraines, tendonitis, arthritis, digestive disorders, anxiety, and female health problems such as menstrual cramps, irregular periods, and infertility.
Moxibustion can be applied in many different ways and the expected physiological reactions from moxibustion can greatly vary depending on the type and technique used. By carefully considering the type of moxibustion, and where and how to apply it, moxibustion can be used safely and effectively for almost all patients. However, it should be noted that moxa, especially direct moxa, is generally not recommended for patients with diabetes, decreased sensitivity to pain, who are on certain
medications such as prednisone, or who have any other conditions involving compromised circulation or a weakened immune system.

Our ZH-JPM12 uses Jade Stones to create Far Infrared rays. We have used Jade Stones with Halogen Bulb in the hollow region at the center. The specialty of Jade Stone is that it emits Far Infrared rays when heated. We use the Halogen bulb to heat the Jade Stone for moxibustion.

About Jade Stone
For thousands of years jade has been revered throughout Asia as the most precious of all stones, one that ensures good luck and good health and banishes evil spirits. For jewelry, the Chinese value jade above all other gems. They believe, as Pearl S. Buck wrote, that “jade is the most sumptuous jewel against a woman’s flesh.” Jade-- the “Stone of Heaven”-- is now appreciated worldwide for its beauty,
rarity, and durability. More than 8000 years ago, before metals came into use, the Chinese discovered jade’s unique toughness and began to use it for plow points, axe-heads, and weapons. Those who
possessed this remarkable material gained significant advantages over their neighbors. Jade’s subtle colors, translucence, and rarity added to its allure, and it soon began to be used for ritual objects. Before long, royalty and high-status individuals were wearing jade ornaments as jewelry. Ancient poetry mentions the tinkle of a gentleman’s jades as he walks, and the Chinese symbol for jade (yu ) in fact looks like three jades suspended on a string. The king of the most powerful of the Warring States (475-221 BC) even offered to exchange 15 of his cities for one particularly  desirable jade; his offer was refused! The name “jade” refers to two distinctly different stones - nephrite and jadeite, which have similar properties. Nephrite, the jade carved in China for thousands of years, is a calcium
magnesium silicate with hardness of 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale (slightly softer than quartz). Nephrite’s tightly packed microscopic fibers, much like the felt in a hat, make it uniquely tough, the hardest to break of all natural materials. Translucent to opaque, nephrite’s subtle colors include creamy white, celadon, spinach, russet, and yellow. Jadeite (fei cui in Chinese) is a sodium aluminum silicate, slightly harder and a bit less tough than nephrite. Jadeite’s colors are more vivid and include green, white, russet, black, and a delicate lavender. Jadeite’s green comes from chromium impurities (just like an emerald’s) and is a different hue than nephrite’s iron green.

Our ZH-JMP12 Jade-stone Projector gives you the benefits of Moxibustion in a simple and safe manner.