Guidelines for using Moxa.
Moxa is a plant (Artemisia argyi Folium) that is used as a heat source to stimulate acupuncture points. Although acupuncture is better known in the West, moxibustion has also been used in traditional treatments for over 2000 years in China and is in fact the second part of the name for acupuncture in the Chinese language (zhen jiu, literally “needle moxaâ€).
The moxa you have been given as part of your treatment is in the form of a moxa stick and has been compressed into a cigar-like roll that makes it ideal for use at home. Before using moxa you will need to prepare the following:
• A cigarette lighter.
• A small ceramic or glass dish to place any ash in that may form on the moxa stick during treatment
• A small towel to place under the area being treated in case any ash is dropped.
• A glass screw-top jar to extinguish the moxa when the treatment is finished. (more…)
Obstetrics and gynecology is another age-old specialty within traditional Chinese medicine. Although most if not all modern textbooks on herbal medicine and acupuncture caution against-though they do not expressly prohibit-treating women during pregnancy (especially in the first trimester), there is a long tradition of pregnancy management to enhance the health of the mother and ensure the healthy development of the newborn child. 
Half of all pregnant women will suffer from constipation at some time during their pregnancy, new research shows.