Moxibustion
Dried mugwort is lit so it smoulders, and the warmth is held near the skin or on top of a needle. The room fills with a rich, sweet-smoky smell that can linger on clothes afterwards.
- How long
- Typically 10–20 minutes of warming, inside a longer appointment.
- What you wear
- Only the point being warmed needs to be reachable. The rest of you stays covered. Tie long hair back if the work is near the neck or shoulders.
- Marks
- The skin can look mildly pink from the warmth. If the heat feels like too much, say so at once and they will lift it away.
- What it feels like
- A spreading warmth and a herbal smell most people notice first. The smell is ordinary in these rooms. It is not a sign that something has gone wrong.
What happens
The practitioner chooses points after the usual questions. Moxibustion can be used on its own or added to needles.
A stick, cone or box of smouldering herb is held close to the skin, or a small amount sits on a needle handle. You will be told which, and you can refuse the extra heat.
Ash is tapped off. Windows or an extractor may be on. If smoke bothers you, say so — some rooms can ease it, some cannot, and honesty here is useful.
When they finish, the herb is extinguished fully. You may want a change of shirt later in the day if you have evening plans.
We will not tell you what this will do for you. The practitioner speaks for themselves. We translate it, including when the answer is that they would rather not go ahead.
How a companion helps here
- The smell is easier to accept when someone has said, in English, that it is the herb and it will linger on fabric.
- Heat tolerance is personal. A companion means you can say “too warm” without searching for the word.
- If you would rather skip this part and keep the rest of the visit, that is a normal thing to say.
