| Moxabustion is the burning mugwort (Herb Artemisia).
The methods of treatment follow a general pattern of holding the burning
herb near an area that requires treatment. This area may be an acupuncture
point or a general area. Specific styles of treatment are used for
specific conditions. Indirect moxa is when the burning moxa is held
over the point. Direct moxa is when a small piece of moxa is placed
on an acupuncture point and burned. This technique is not used much
as it can lead to scaring if not properly done. Additionally, there
is the use of a substrate such as ginger where the moxa is placed on a
slice of ginger that has several hole is it. Not all acupuncture
points can be used with Moxa. Several points are forbidden as being
too close to veins or other reasons. The treatment seems to stimulate
the body in many ways. First, it increases the circulation in the
area. Second, it seems to stimulate the immune system. Third.
It seems to stimulate the metabolic system. The most classic use
of moxa is the turning of the fetus in the womb. The technique is
to use indirect moxa on the outer edge of the little tow by the corner
of the nail closest to the body. Western science has found that this
does work about 75% of the time. One of my teachers said that her
success rate was about 90%.
Cupping consists of using a glass or the traditional bamboo container and holding a flame source inside of it. Then the cup is quickly applied to the area of treatment. This modality increases the blood flow beneath the tissues and through out the skin. Its use Is primarily after traumatic injuries to reestablish the circulation to the sight. Gua-Sha is the scrapping of an area to bring up a reddish rash. The scrapping is done using a spoon, coin or flat dull edge of a knife. The purpose is to simulate the blood circulation in the are and to break up congestion. Several years ago in Orange county California, some school officials saw what they thought was child abuse in some of the Vietnamese students. They rightfully called the authorities and started a discovery process that changed Orange county and California. The parents were using Gua-Sha on their children to help them with colds. Cultural healing may be different and is not necessarily dependent on the culture. While some people believe that Oriental Medicine is useful to the Asian community alone, the application of acupuncture to animal brings this point of view into question. Indeed, recently in California, a legislator stated that this was indeed a culturally sensitive pain relief. With this argument, the western culture's chosen technique of pain control is alcohol and drugs.
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