How to be in good health naturally this winter!
By boosting your body and strengthening your Immune System with moxibustion.
Moxibustion is an ancestral technique practised in Chinese Medicine. It involves stimulating specific acupuncture points with heat to boost the body's energy.
What is moxibustion?
Moxibustion uses a moxa: a stick like a large cigar, which contains dried Mugwort.
Mugwort (artemisia) is a medicinal plant that grows beside rivers. It is harvested in spring until July, then cleaned and fermented for 2-3 years, which gives it a strong smell close to incense. It is then crushed to be rolled up very tight under a stick or cone shape.
Powerful and amazing technique to help the circulation of energy when it is blocked. The Mugwort has specific radiant properties, allowing heat to penetrate very deeply into the body relieving the stagnation of blood and energy, which causes inflammation and pain.
It warms the channels and expels the cold. It promotes blood circulation for chronic pain, muscles tensions, arthritis pain, warming the uterus for conception, etc.
What do you need?
A Moxa Stick
A lighter
A Moxa extinguisher/holder
Precaution to take:
The moxa is ignited with a lighter, which takes a bit of time.
Once the moxa is lit, you won’t be able to turn it off unless you use a holder extinguisher as shown in the picture.
If you don't have a holder, you can take an aluminium foil and wrap it to turn it off with high precaution because it is very hot and avoid being burned.
During practice, occasionally tap time to the moxa stick on a holder/ashtray to remove the ashes.
Practice:
Light the moxa, such as if you light a cigar, heating one of the ends. You can blow on it to light the embers. When you see a red dot at the end, it's on.
For a reminder, the stick will burn without stopping, unless you stop it with a holder/extinguisher.
Important information before starting:
Be careful not to burn yourself.
Heat the point for 5-10 minutes, about 2 to 3 cm from the skin.
As soon as you feel it's getting too hot, move away from the moxa for a moment, then bring it closer again. Your skin will become slightly dew is normal.
When ashes appear, tap the stick on an ashtray to remove them.
When you have finished, choke your moxa stick in the holder.
Acupuncture point to heat:
Stomach 36 – Zu San Li
Considered "the point of longevity" in Chinese medicine, this point boosts the energy of your spleen and harmonises the stomach. It allows the elimination of inflammation from the body, improves digestion, and strengthens the immune system.
This point is located below the knee to the anterior crest of the tibia
Ren Mai 4, Ren Mai 5, Ren Mai 6
These points are below the navel. To find Ren 4, place your 4 fingers together below the navel. Just over you have points 5 and 6 Ren Mai. Heat all this area for 10 minutes. Moxa on points 4, 5 and 6 Ren Mai is effective in case of general fatigue, enuresis, excessive urination, cystitis, or even irregular menstruation.
To get moxa sticks, you can buy them online or directly with a practitioner in Chinese Medicine.
Take good care of yourself!
Violaine
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