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Moxibustion should feel warm, never like an endurance test. Here is what to discuss before heat is used and how to signal discomfort.

Moxibustion is one of the older techniques within Chinese medicine. It uses heat produced from moxa, which is usually prepared from dried mugwort, held near or placed on the body according to traditional practice.

Who should talk it through first

Not everyone will find moxibustion comfortable or appropriate. Before it is considered, let Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, know if smoke or strong scents bother you, if you have asthma, if your skin reacts easily or if you have patches with reduced feeling, such as from nerve damage or diabetes. These points help decide whether heat is a sensible option and, if so, which form might suit.

Warm, not scorching

The aim is a gentle warmth. If a spot begins to feel too hot, or the smoke stings your eyes or catches in your throat, say so immediately and the heat can be moved or stopped. In traditional theory, moxibustion is described as warming and regulating the body. Those ideas belong to a treatment framework and are not a promise about any particular symptom.

Planning for comfort and aftercare

Agree on a simple signal for when you want a break before any heat is applied, and ask what care your skin will need afterwards. Your breathing, the condition of your skin and how well you can sense temperature are all relevant. Treat any instructions as yours alone; a routine shared online or a friend's experience is not a guide to what your own body needs.

Moxibustion at Lane Cove

Rainbow Medicine offers moxibustion at the Lane Cove clinic, where the room can be ventilated and the method chosen around your sensitivities. If you are unsure whether heat is a good idea for you, raise it during a regular consultation first, and bring a list of any medicines or skin products you use. These notes are general and do not replace a personal assessment.