|
|
Materials for MoxibustionMoxa wool, moxa cones, moxa sticks, matches and a tray should be ready before hand. Making of moxa cones. Place a small amount of moxa wool on a board, knead and shape it into a cone with the thumb, index and middle fingers in three sizes. The smallest is as big as a grain of wheat ; the medium size is about half a date stone, and the largest is the size of the upper part of the thumb. The two smaller cones are suitable for direct moxibustion, while the largest for indirect moxibustion.
The Property of Artemisia Vulagaris Moxa Artemisia Vulgaris is a species of chrysanthemum. The one produced in Qizhou is known as the best kind for moxa as the climate and soil is good for its growth. The leaves of the Qizhou Artemisia are thick with much more wool. Moxa cones and sticks made of this kind of Artemisia are thought the top quality used in moxibustion. In A New Edition of Materia Medico appears the following description : " The moxa leaf is bitter and acrid, producing warmth when used in small amount and strong heat when used in large amount. It is of pure yang nature having the ability to restore the primary yang from collapse. It can open the twelve regular meridians, travelling through the three yin meridians to regulate qi and blood, expel cold and dampness, warm the uterus, stop bleeding, warm the spleen and stomach to remove stagnation, regulate menstruation and ease the fetus.. . When burned, it penetrates all the meridians, eliminating hundreds of diseases. " Yang can be activated by the Artemisia leaf for its warm nature. The acrid odor of the leaf can travel through the meridians, regulate qi and blood, and expel cold from the meridians, and its bitter nature resolves dampness. As a result it is used as a necessary material in moxibustion treatment. In addition, the moxa wool can produce mild heat, which is able to penetrate deeply into the muscles. If it is replaced by other materials, an intolerable burning pain will result, and the effect is found poor than the moxa wool. |
|
