Moxa is used on patients who have a excess cold or a stagnant condition. The moxa expels cold and warms the meridians, which leads to a smoother flow of Qi (energy) and blood. It has been used successfully to turn breech babies into a normal head-down position prior to childbirth. A landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that up to 75% of women suffering from breech positions before childbirth had fetuses that rotated to the normal position after receiving moxa at a specific acupuncture point on the little toe. Other studies have shown that moxa increases the movement of the fetus in pregnant women, and may reduce the symptoms of menstrual cramps when used in conjunction with acupuncture.
Although moxa has been used safely in Chinese medicine for centuries, it’s not for everyone. Because it’s used specifically for patients suffering from cold or stagnant constitutions, it shouldn’t be used on anyone diagnosed with too much heat and dry symptoms. Moxa produces a great deal of smoke and a pungent odor, therefore the practitioner will use an alternative to moxa for patients with respiratory problems.