November 6, 2023 - Moxa & MVAs
What is Moxa?
It's that time of year, especially in the wet and cold PNW, when we acupuncturists bring out the moxa!
Benefits of moxa are warming of the area, added healing effect of the point. It stimulates circulation and lymphatic flow as well, it helps smooth the free flow of Qi and blood.
What is Moxa?
Moxa is made from the herb, Mugwort. It comes in many different forms for treatment in Acupuncture & Eastern Medicine. Stick moxa, which comes in a smokeless version that is used above points to warm the area.
Warming Needle - shaping moxa wool into a ball that we put on the end of a needle and burn. This method more directly enters the point.
Direct moxa which also can be done many different ways.
One of my favs is rice grain - we make tiny rice grain size from the moxa wool and put it on a point and burn. An insulator is put on the skin to prevent pain or the skin burning.
Moxa cone - we make the moxa wool into the shape of a cone and place on an insulator which is then placed on the skin
An insulator can be a slice of garlic, ginger or a salve, which can provide additionally healing properties
Some conditions that benefit from moxibustion are:
Arthritis
Boosts immunity & protects against illness
Improves digestive issues
Improving healing time of injuries
Menstrual issues, like heavy bleeding, menstrual pain/cramping
Turning breech position of a fetus
Treatment after a Car Accident
Car accidents can cause an unexplained amount of pain in ways you would not expect. If you have experienced the effects of a car accident, you know what I'm talking about. The symptoms can vary greatly and come and go over time. If you think about it, it is not the natural state for the human body to be in a car crash - our bodies have not evolved to withstand the impact of a car accident, even a small fender bender. Because of this, our bodies can be highly affected by them in very painful ways.
I see the recovery from a car accident, even a small one, as an evolution over time. Our bodies need the time and attention to heal AND there will be multiple layers.
My recommendation for healing from a car accident is to seek out a team of helpers. I don't think there is one specific treatment that will 'fix' you. It will take time and will evolve and the best advice I can give is to keep listening to how you feel each day. Take time to assess your symptoms - be curious and aware. And if you are filing a claim, document everything.
The basics that I think are helpful for treatment are below* (not in any particular order):
Acupuncture
Cranial Sacral
Massage
Physical Therapy
It is essential that you find people with whom you resonate! If it doesn’t feel right with someone, keep searching.
How does Acupuncture help?
What I love about acupuncture is that it can reset your energetic system. After a car accident, your energetic system is out of whack. There are pathways that have potentially been interrupted or severed. Acupuncture can help unblock pathways, set your Qi back on the right course. From my experience, you will see a difference right away with less pain, an increase in range of motion and shorter recovery time.
*If other treatment modalities speak to you, of course, seek them out. These are the foundational treatment types that I recommend and have helped me over the years in my recovery from multiple car accidents.