By Chia Chia Cheng, L.Ac. Dip. OM, CNFM
Chinese is a descriptive language. When the word for acupuncture was used to describe the medicine, something got lost in translation.
The word acupuncture does not fully describe how acupuncture is practiced whether here in the United States or abroad. In Chinese the word acupuncture is actually two words. Zheng Jiu. (Big J then little j sound. Ironic!!)
“Zheng” means needle. “Jiu” means moxibustion. Zheng is the acupuncture part, inserting a solid needle into the body to produce a change. Acupuncture promotes healing in the body because it
- balances energy
- brings circulation to an area or within the body’s internal pathways ( aka meridians)
- reduces inflammation
- stimulates hormones for cell growth
Jiu is the application of a dried herb (artemisia vulgaris) at an acupuncture point. This can happen in four ways.
- On the skin, smaller than a grain of rice, using a burn ointment as a barrier. (Old school practitioners don’t use an ointment.)
- On top of a slice of herb
- On the needle, the size of a mini pompom
- On the skin, next to a needle
Then the moxa is lit with incense, lighter or a match (my uncle still uses a match).
Many patients have asked me what moxa does. Moxa has the following benefits:
- Warms
- Disperses
- Tonifies
- Circulates
There are very few practitioners who use moxa in their practice. The ash can be messy. Using fire in the treatment room can be a fire hazard. Performing moxibustion is time consuming.
Using both acupuncture and moxibustion in a treatment combines the healing benefits of both modalities.
I love burning moxa in during a session. The smell reminds me of my many visits to my uncle’s clinic as a child and during postgraduate training. Being with my uncle at his clinic was some of the best times growing up.
When we work together you’ll experience the healing powers of acupuncture (Zheng Jui) in its traditional form.
