San Fu Moxibustion For Seasonal Allergies And Asthma

Moxibustion is generally understood to be the application of warming herbs to the skin in order to elicit a healing response. Sometimes acupuncturists use mugwort heated with a flame and warm specific acupoints or areas of the body to activate the circulation and eliminate areas of cold or pain. For example, if nausea or menstrual cramps are a concern, moxa can be used with excellent results in eliminating discomfort.

There is another method of moxibustion called San Fu Jiu. Rather than using a flame to heat the herbs, the herbs are moistened with fresh ginger juice and mixed into a thick paste. The paste or as Dr Melanie calls them, "mud pies," are placed on certain points on the upper back and taped in place for a couple hours for people who suffer with seasonal allergies or asthma.

The traditional application happens on the lunar calendar days that are deemed to be either the three hottest of the summer or the three coldest of the winter. However, modern studies have proved that adhering to this specific schedule is not absolutely necessary. The strategy is to use the San Fu in the season before the allergies emerge. So, for spring allergies, Dr Melanie likes to start using the San Fu moxa once or twice in February, and again one more time in March. For fall allergies, she will start generally at the end of July or beginning of August, so that by September, the protection of the treatment will be in place.

Children under the age of 19 seem to have the best results in reduction or total elimination of asthma medication or allergic sensitivity. However, Dr Melanie has also used San Fu moxa for adults with very positive outcomes.