Moxibustion

Moxibustion (a manipulative and body-based practice) is a therapy within traditional Chinese medicine (1). Dried moxa herb (a mugwort) is burned usually just above but sometimes directly on the skin over acupuncture points. The herb may be in the form of incense sticks or wool.

Moxibustion is used to treat conditions similar to those approached with acupuncture, including pain, headache, and chronic fatigue. A meta-analysis including 10 trials comparing moxibustion plus pharmacotherapy with pharmacotherapy alone in cancer patients found improved pain relief with the combination therapy (2).

Moxibustion can result in circular burns (which resemble burns from cigarette tips) and vesicobullous lesions.