Why do all Portlanders need moxa?
Moxabustion, short for moxa is burning of dried mugwort cones over acupuncture points. When there is an injury, whether physical or emotional and whether old or new, it constricts the body inhibiting a smooth flow of Qi.
Mugwort is a warming herb and great at alleviating pain. By burning mugwort over a certain acupuncture point, the warmth can be deeply penetrated into the body and by doing so it dispels the blockage and normalize the flow of Qi.
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From the biomedicine perspective, it increases WBC counts by giving the body just enough
stimulus to mount its own immune response. It also promotes the activity of phagocytes which eat up debris from pathogens.
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I love doing moxa because it brings me so much nostalgia. Growing up, I helped my grandmother roll moxa into cones and watched my parents do moxa on each other. When I do moxa on my patients, I feel my grandmother's presence in the room. I feel the love and care that my parents bring to each other. I feel deeply connected to the healing traditions in my family.
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Besides the personal memories, I really think that anybody living in cold damp PNW needs moxibustion treatment because it is warming and drying!
