In Chinese, "moxibustion" literally means "warming with
fire".
Modern moxibustion experts speculate that the practice was
probably developed when ancient Chinese discovered that the
symptoms of some diseases could be alleviated by warming up near
the fire.
Through trial and error, ancient Chinese found that burning the
dried leaves of the herb mugwort produces the best therapeutic
effects.
The burning moxibustion
stick is waved a few centimeters above the acupuncture points.
During the process, mugwort vapors and other TCM ingredients enter
the pores of the skin, which helps clear the cold in the
body.
According to moxibustion practitioner doctor Fan Changwei, the
earliest record of moxibustion can be traced back to the Spring and
Autumn Period (770-476 BC). It was a widely used treatment until
the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Moxibustion can serve as a treatment on its own, or it can work
in concert with acupuncture.
During the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the government
declared both acupuncture and moxibustion illegal, because it
deemed needles and fire unsafe.
However, ordinary Chinese people continued these practices at
home, because they were cheap and effective.
The practices underwent a revival in the 1950s, when government
vigorously promoted them.
A proverb from the time says: "If there's mugwort at home, one
need not see a doctor for years."
China's opening up exported acupuncture around the world.
However, moxibustion's spread remained stagnant.
One of the challenges to moxibustion's spread is that the
practice is time-consuming, so the practitioner can only treat one
person at a time. Also, moxibustion sticks are very cheap. Doctors
only made small profits from moxibustion treatments, so many
stopped using it, according to Fu Shoufeng, an old TCM practitioner
in Beijing.
The smoke from burning mugwort sticks discouraged both the
practitioners and patients to resort to the treatment, he said.
Some people have an aversion to the fumes.
As younger generations of Chinese turned away from tradition,
public awareness about the practice waned, Fan said.
Last month, the Moxibustion Health Care Special Committee was
established as an official organization to save the dying practice.
Fan heads the committee.
In addition to researching and promoting moxibustion, the
committee has also established standards for the medical practice
and organized training courses for both professionals and
amateurs.
If practitioners are properly trained, moxibustion can become an
effective home therapy, providing pain relief and treatment for
many common ailments.
(China Daily January 17, 2007)
