Moxa: The Smell of Health

Walk into AcuMedGroup Wellness Center and you’ll notice a distinct smell. Whether you

like it or not, it’s an essential part of our acupuncture and cupping therapies.

The pungent scent comes from moxibustion -- the burning of moxa, or mugwort.

It’s an herb that grows naturally in various parts of the world and is a staple in Traditional

Chinese Medicine (TCM). The ancient Romans were even known to grow mugwort along

roads for travelers to put in their shoes to relieve aching feet and stave off exhaustion.

Dr. Rusnak, like most acupuncture physicians in the U.S., holds a smoldering moxa stick

close to (but not touching) the surface of the skin in specific areas depending on the malady

being treated. The deeply penetrating heat produced from the burning moxa enhances the

flow of Qi while expelling toxins from the body. Moxibustion and acupuncture are often used

together because they increase each other's effectiveness.

Moxabustion is also used in cupping therapy to remove air from the cups before they are

applied to the body.

Quality, medical-grade moxa produces only a small amount of ash and does not burn the

skin. You can expect to feel a sudden sense of warmth that quickly radiates along a specific

pathway away from the site of application.

You might dislike the smell of moxa on your first few visits. But you experience the healing

power of moxibustion, the smell often becomes soothing.

Visit AcuMedGroup Wellness Center to experience moxa first hand, along with all the other things we do to create a healing experience for you.