What is Moxibustion? The ancient art of warming, nourishing + reigniting your Qi

If acupuncture is the needle, moxibustion is the flame. And if you’ve ever walked into our clinic and noticed a subtle smoky scent or seen someone blissed out under a heat lamp with a glowing herb nearby - you’ve met moxa.

So what is this magical ritual, and why are we obsessed with it at Meraki?

Let’s dive into the warm, smoky wisdom of moxibustion (or as we lovingly call it: moxa).

What is Moxibustion?

Moxibustion is a Traditional Chinese Medicine technique that involves burning a dried herb called mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) near or on specific acupuncture points to warm, strengthen, and move Qi and Blood.

There are two main types:

• Indirect moxa: We hover a lit moxa stick (like a cigar) near your skin or use it with acupuncture needles.

• Direct moxa: Small cones of moxa are placed directly on the skin (don’t worry - we remove it before you feel the heat).

  
  

It sounds simple, but the effects are deeply therapeutic.

Why Mugwort?

Mugwort is an earthy, powerful herb that’s been used for centuries. It’s:

• Warming

• Yang-tonifying

• Circulation-boosting

• Energetically clearing

  
  

It’s like nature’s heat pack: but smarter.

Why We Use Moxibustion in Clinic

Moxa is all about adding warmth, moving stuckness, and nourishing depletion.

Here’s when we reach for it:

1. Cold and Damp Conditions

Feeling bloated, heavy, sluggish, or achy? That’s likely cold/damp in the body and moxa is the go-to to transform it. Think: digestive issues, cold hands/feet, or that “stuck in mud” feeling.

2. Menstrual Cramps + Irregular Cycles

Moxa warms the uterus, improves blood flow, and helps ease pain. We use it a lot for:

• Painful periods

• Long cycles

• Spotting or dark clots

Especially powerful for women who run cold or are post-birth.

3. Breech Baby Support

Yep, this one’s famous! We use moxa on a point called Bladder 67 (at the outer edge of the pinky toe) to encourage breech babies to turn. It’s gentle, non-invasive, and best done between 34–36 weeks.

4. Fatigue, Burnout + Cold Constitution

If you’re always tired, chilly, low in energy, and feel “wiped out” by life, you likely have a Yang deficiency. Moxa helps stoke your internal fire and nourish depleted systems.

5. Postpartum Recovery

In Chinese medicine, postpartum is a time of extreme yin: cold, fluid loss, and blood deficiency. Moxa warms the womb, rebuilds strength, and prevents cold from “entering” the body.

6. Arthritis or Chronic Joint Pain

Especially when symptoms worsen with cold weather or dampness. Moxa can be applied directly over joints to ease stiffness and promote circulation.

🔥 What It Feels Like

Imagine a soothing warmth radiating into your body, reaching places that regular heat packs can’t touch. Most clients describe it as:

• Deeply comforting

• Releasing

• Energising, yet grounding

• Smelling a little like incense + earth

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And honestly? Slightly addictive (in a good way).

Why It Matters

In a world where we’re always “on,” burning out, and running cold (emotionally and physically), moxibustion is the reminder that warmth is medicine.

It reconnects you to your body’s rhythm, clears stagnation, and invites energy to rise gently- without force.

Whether you’re calling in a baby, healing after one, or just feel like your internal pilot light has dimmed and moxa might just be your new best friend.

Want to try it? Book a session or ask us about at-home moxa kits designed just for you.

With warmth (literally),

Casey & the Meraki Team xx