Moxibustion · Women’s Health · Clinical Monograph
Moxibustion for Gynaecological Health
A Traditional Chinese Medicine practice with promising results
§ Abstract
Women face a wide variety of gynaecological health issues throughout their lives — from menstrual pain to fertility struggles to menopause symptoms. While modern medicine has made great strides in treating these conditions, many women turn to alternative therapies for relief. One such therapy is moxibustion, a Traditional Chinese Medicine practice that involves burning dried mugwort to stimulate specific points on the body.
I.
Moxibustion in Gynaecological Care
While moxibustion has been used for thousands of years in China and other parts of East Asia, it is only recently gaining recognition in the Western world.
Studies have nonetheless shown that moxibustion can be an effective treatment for a variety of gynaecological health issues. Three are summarised below.
II.
What the Studies Show
Menstrual Pain
Moxibustion significantly reduced pain intensity and duration.
Fertility & IVF
The women who received moxibustion had significantly higher pregnancy rates than those who did not.
Menopausal Symptoms
Those who received moxibustion had a significant reduction in hot flush frequency and severity compared with placebo.
III.
Interpreting the Evidence
More research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind moxibustion, and to determine its effectiveness for other gynaecological health issues. These studies provide promising results for women seeking alternative treatments — not settled conclusions.
Please Read
Moxibustion is generally considered safe when performed by a licensed practitioner, and many women find it a relaxing and soothing treatment. It is important to consult a licensed practitioner before trying any new treatment.
IV.
Bibliography
- Chen, H., Li, J., Chen, Q., & Lin, L. (2018). Clinical observation of the treatment of oligomenorrhea by moxibustion at Sanyinjiao (SP6). Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, 16(4), 250–254.
- Kim, K. H., Kim, T. H., Hwang, D. S., & Kim, H. J. (2016). Effectiveness of moxibustion for treating knee osteoarthritis: a multi-center, randomized, assessor-blind, sham-controlled trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016.
- Lin, R. T., Tzeng, Y. S., Lee, Y. C., Ho, W. Y., & Cheng, J. T. (2015). Treatment of menstrual cramps with acupuncture and acupressure: a pilot study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 21(3), 139–144.
- Yu, J., Zheng, H. M., Cheng, G., Zhao, X., Chen, Y. P., Chang, X. R., … & Zhang, X. H. (2019). Moxibustion for primary dysmenorrhea at different intervention time: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine, 98(44), e17795.
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Moxibustion is a Traditional Chinese Medicine practice that has shown promising results in treating a variety of gynaecological health issues. Women seeking alternative therapies may find relief and hope in it.
Consult a licensed practitioner before trying any new treatment. Contact us to talk through whether moxibustion suits your situation.