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Moxibustion Moxibustion is the treatment of acupuncture points with warmth.
Historically, it may predate the use of needles in Traditional Oriental
Medicine. Moxa is a fluffy vegetable material made from mugwort (Artemesia
vulgaris). Small amounts (1/2 rice grain size) are burned near an acupuncture point to be
treated, creating pleasing warmth. In Japan, research has
found that moxibustion increases the number of white blood cells, boosting immune function. It triggers a cascade of effects
in the circulatory and lymphatic systems to raise immunity system-wide. It
increases activity of the adrenal gland, warming the body. It is effective
at relieving pain, reducing stress, and clearing congestion. In those who
are weakened by chronic disease, age, and other stressors moxibustion
builds vitality to support the body’s own healing capacity. I often use moxibustion. It warms and invigorates circulation. It supports nourishment to improve immunity. Properly used, it will: warm any chronically cold person, relieve inflammation, reduce swelling. It is indispensable for treating pain. It is valuable in the treatment of infertility, and in preparation for childbirth. A particular benefit is that moxibustion may be performed at home. Points are marked at the time of treatment; their home use prolongs the effect of treatment to speed recovery, reduce pain and raise vitality. It is my job to reduce your need for further treatment. I learned moxibustion from Robert Hayden, Junji Mizutani, Shudo Denmai, and others, and am grateful for it.
Dr. Shimetaro Hara researched the effects of moxibustiuon. This summary of his work comes from Junji Mizutani, teacher of moxibustion and publisher of North American Journal of Oriental Medicine. See the last paragraph for his biography. Even
though his approach may have been somewhat limited
and his research was done in the 1920s, Dr. Hara’s research
on changes in the blood chemistry with direct moxibustion
was a valuable contribution still applicable today.
His conclusive findings are part of the explanation of
the therapeutic effects of moxibustion, and they are as follows: 1.
There is an increase in white blood cells. The white blood cell
count begins to increase immediately after moxibustion,
and reaches a peak eight hours later. This peak
is maintained for 24 hours. The number declines somewhat
after three days, but it remains elevated for four
to five days after moxibustion. The white blood cell
count almost doubles with moxibustion, but when applied
continuously for six weeks, the increase is sustained for up to 13 weeks after moxibustion is discontinued. 2.
The phagocytic activity of the white blood cells increases. For
example, with typhoid bacilli the phagocytic activity increases
just 15 minutes after moxibustion. This activity
reaches a peak in two to three days, and gradually declines
after that. Phagocytic activity is greater than
normal for about a week after moxibustion but, when
moxibustion is applied continuously, the increase in this activity continues for a longer period. 3.
There is an increase in red blood cells and hemoglobin. For
subjects who had an average hemoglobin ratio of 78%
just before moxibustion, the ratio increased steadily to
reach a peak of 90% in eight weeks. Applying moxibustion
continuously for 15 weeks, it takes 22 weeks
for the red blood cell count to return to what it was
before moxibustion. 4.
The sedimentation rate of red blood cells increases. 5.
Platelet count increases. 6.
The speed of blood coagulation increases. 7.
Blood glucose count increases. 8.
Blood calcium increases. 9.
Serum complements increase. 10. The capacity to produce antibodies increases. Dr.
Hara claimed that these experimental results were produced
by minute amounts of “histotoxins” (denatured proteins),
which stimulated an increase in blood constituents and
their activity. Furthermore, he enlisted the concept of
homeopathy to explain that, while large amounts of
“histotoxins” from big burns are harmful to the body, minute
amounts of this substance from the continuous application
of moxibustion was actually beneficial and useful
for maintaining health. Shimetaro
Hara, M.D. was born in 1883. He entered the
Kyoto Prefecture Medical Specialty School in 1901 and
became a doctor. He began doing research around 1924
at the Public Health Section of the Kyushu University Medical
School. Starting with his study of hematological
effects after the injection of oxygen, he went
on to conduct moxibustion research including, “the
hematological effects of moxibustion.” After that, he
became a life-long advocate of moxibustion on ST36 as
a method of health promotion and freedom from disease.
He practiced this method himself and proved its
remarkable effects by living to the age of 108. When he
passed away on June 18, 1991, he had been the oldest living
Japanese man for two months.
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