The technique of holding a moxa stick at a precise distance enhances therapeutic outcomes.

Moxibustion has a specific healing response, what does it feel like? Warmth spreading across the surface of your skin. There's a secret. The pleasure doesn't come just from the burning of the stick or the burning of the moxa. The distance the practitioner holds the stick from the body is an important part of the experience. This requires an attentive practitioner. A masterful distance-holding practitioner knows how to turn a simple burning stick into a true healing experience.

What does moxibustion feel like!

What heat you feel from your moxa stick should not be your concern, your concern is the type of heat you feel, for instance, if you were to use a tuning fork to produce a sound, if the string is not tight enough, you would produce no sound, if the string is too tight, you would produce a rattling sound, but with the right amount of tightness, you would reach a resonant tone. If there was a way to measure moxa heat that would be penetrating. The deeper the heat is not meant to be painful, but rather to penetrate the tissues beyond the sensation of warmth, to the subdermal tissues, and the energy vessels i.e. the meridians and the correct level of heat to get the real treatment from the moxa is the level that will get the heat to the subdermal tissues, the energy vessels and the meridians.

The Goldilocks Zone: Not Too Hot, Not Too Cold

So what is this perfect distance? Practically, it's a few inches away from the skin. But the exact distance depends on a number of factors. The intensity of your moxa stick's burn, the sensitivity of the area you're working on, and your personal comfort. The goal is to find the 'Goldilocks zone.' Heat should be felt as a strong and present, but not sharp, burning sensation. You should feel a deep, comfortable warmth that seems to radiate inward. If it feels too hot you're too close. Move the stick back. If you barely feel the heat, you're too far. Bring it a little closer. You're constantly making tiny adjustments, listening to because of the feedback from your body. There is a dance of sorts that occurs between yourself, the stick, and the point you are treating.

What Makes Qi and Blood Stagnations

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, wellness is dependent on the uninterrupted circulation of Qi and blood. Stagnation leads to health deterioration. A moxa stick at the right distance is able to help move this stagnation. It warms the meridians, stimulates the circulation of blood, and removes cold and dampness from the body. If the stick is too far, the heat is too weak to have any affect on the deeper energy pathways. If the stick is too near, the heat is too strong and too aggressive. And this might even be counterproductive. It might create a different kind of Qi imbalance, and even scare the Qi away. The precise and comfortable warmth is what invites the Qi to move and restore health.

Looking at Quality Moxa and Distance Control

Distance Control Quality Moxa At moxa sticks distance and your ability to find and maintain that distance is influenced directly by the quality of your moxa stick. If the moxa stick is made from quality mugwort that is 3-5 years aged, the difference is noticeable. The heat is gradual, steady, and even. It becomes easier to feel and adjust to fine distance changes. Weaker sticks produce more irritating and thick smoke. For example, a stick from the Shuhe brand, a brand that is fully committed to quality, authenticity, and a standard burn, is a more reliable stick. With lower quality moxa sticks, burning irregularly, and from materials that are cheaper, younger, or more impure, distance control becomes a frustrating game of luck and guesswork. Quality moxa provides distance control.

Using Different Techniques at Different Distances

Depending moxibustion technique you are using the exact distance also slightly changes. For example, in suspended moxibustion, you have the stick at a certain distance and are trying to gauge how much that distance is in relation to how warm it is. Or, with the technique known as sparrow pecking you use the stick to move up and down with a rhythmic motion. In this case, you are controlling the distance to get a burn, but then pull it away, which produces a pulsing feeling. In circling moxibustion, you use the stick to draw small circles over a certain point, but it is also a challenge to keep the distance the same as you move it. Each technique demonstrates how achieving the desired healing effect is accomplished by different uses of distance.

Understanding how your body communicates the right distance

For this exercise, your body is the most useful resource. It will give precise directions. The goal is a sensation often referred to as the arrival of Qi. You may feel the warmth of Qi traveling along a meridian. You could also experience a gentle pulling, or possibly an ache, or a tingling at the point. These are positive signs. They mean qi is flowing. If you experience nothing except surface heat, perhaps you need to change your distance, or perhaps you need to exercise some more patience. If you feel a sharp, burning pain, then you are far too close. You will learn, over time, to interpret these signals. You will gain a type of sensitivity that enables you to feel the right distance, as if by instinct. It is a felt sense, not merely a mental calculation.

BIG TABLE: What Happens in Your Mind

Your target's distance requires your extreme concentration from other distractions such as T.V or your cellphone. Instead, your attention should be directed to the target, the heat from the moxa stick, and, most importantly, your body's responses. Keeping your attention on these elements calms your mind and promotes a state of relaxed awareness. \nYour mind becomes the target of the moving meditation and moxibustion is the means to achieve this. \nBarrier sticks cultivate focus and, with a focused mind, the Qi flows better, making the treatment even more effective. It is a beautiful feedback loop.

Novice to Expert

At first, it can feel strange to hold the moxa stick at the same distance for an extended period of time. Your arm may feel fatigued, and it may be tough to find the distance that feels most comfortable. Keep in mind it is something that gets easier with practice. Start by doing shorter sessions, focusing on one or two of the treatment points. Remember to be aware of the sensations that occur and, with time, it will get easier to hold the stick at deliberate distances. Your arm will be stronger at the end of this. Your ability to feel the sensations will be improved. What may have felt clumsy, at one time, will by reflex be smooth and automatic. People will notice the difference. You will have moved on from someone who just applies heat, to someone who is moxibustion, and in the process, you will become a natural, an expert; the difference is, you will have developed a mastery over your most priceless possession, your health.

A Legacy of Accuracy

The idea of accurate measurement has been around for thousands of years. Ancient texts describe the importance of achieving the right measurement of warmth. Modern day practitioners and researchers are confirming what the ancients have known for thousands of years. There are critical biological effects that are influenced by how deep the heat goes, how far it is from the body, and what temperature it is. Brands like Shuhe, inspired by the wisdom of the Huangdi Neijing, incorporate this into everything they do. They provide the tradition and tools necessary for practice to be done with care and accuracy. It is a fusion of modern practice and ancient wisdom.

It's Your Choice

In the end, the moxa stick is just an accessory. You have the power to turn it into something that can have great therapeutic benefits. By learning to hold the stick at the perfect distance, it becomes an instrument to facilitate your healing and wellness. You now have the ability to turn mugwort into something that promotes deep relaxation and therapeutic benefits.