Moxibustion
Moxa - a powerful herb
Moxa punk is made from mugwort leaves, and it's unique in it's ability to warm the tissue deeply and relieve pain when burnt on or above the skin.
When burnt, moxa does not burn with a flame, it smolders and radiates its warmth evenly.
Moxa smoke smells similar to burnt cannabis sativa (more commonly known as "weed"): That's where the funny smell in my practice comes from. It's not from smoking illegal substances in my breaks. ;-)
Moxibustion techniques
Depending on the desired results, a variety of techniques are used with moxa.
Direct and indirect moxibustion
Moxibustion is extensively used in Japanese acupuncture. Its effects are different from the use of needles, though, so the techniques cannot be 100% exchanged with those of needling.
For indirect moxibustion, either something is put as shield between the moxa cone and the skin (e.g. a slice of ginger or garlic, or miso), or the moxa is not put on the skin but above it. When the navel needs moxa, it is filled with salt, and the moxa cone is put on the salt bed.
Okyu moxa
For okyu moxa, the highest grade of moxa punk is rolled to tiny (sesame to rice-corn sized, in the picture behind the matchstick) rugby-ball shapes and placed upright on the skin. Then it's lighted with an incense stick and extinguished before it burns the skin. The patient feels a very brief warm or stinging sensation when the moxa is almost burnt.
In Japan, the moxa is often left to burn down to the skin, which can produce blisters or scarring, but I gladly abstain from that practice. Scarring isn't necessary for good results, and I gather it isn't appreciated very much in the West.
Cone moxa
Cone moxa is another form of direct moxa: Moxa is rolled into cone-shapes, which are then placed upright on the skin and lighted with a lighter or an incense stick (like the two cones in the middle of the picture). They are taken off and extinguished when or before the patient starts feeling the warmth, or, for another purpose they are left in place until the patient feels the heat.
Stick-on moxa
Stick-on moxa is a very convenient form of moxa, and very useful for home use. Small pre-rolled pieces of moxa punk or moxa charcoal are attached to an adhesive base. Stick-on moxa is usually left in place until it goes out by itself, which takes 3-7 minutes, depending on the brand. (On the far right and left in the picture)
Needle-head moxa
Another form of indirect moxibustion is the placing of moxa on the head of a needle and lighting it. This is very beneficial to the acupoint and its associated organs, relaxes the muscles and warms the whole area deeply. Patients love this form of moxa, as it is gently warming and very relaxing. (Some actually purr like happy cats.)
Moxa cigar
This technique is used more in the Chinese traditions of acupuncture, but it's also convenient for home use. The moxa punk is rolled into a cigar-shape, lighted and held above the point to be treated until the heat is felt at the point.