Moxibustion therapy is an ancient approach that has been employed to treat a wide variety of health issues. One of its most prominent uses is for women who are experiencing problems with fertility. It may be used alongside more conventional modern medicine, or as an alternative when other methods have been unsuccessful.
Infertility and its Treatments
Infertility is defined as the inability to reproduce. It is usually diagnosed when someone cannot become pregnant or fails to carry a pregnancy to term, after a year of regular, unprotected sex. It can impact men or women, and has a wide range of possible causes, from genetic to physical obstructions to hormone problems, immune issues, infection and more. These problems can also be aggravated by psychological or emotional difficulties such as stress or depression, which can often be caused by ongoing fertility struggles.
When someone is struggling to conceive, the first step is to try and identify a possible medical cause. For men, this may include semen deficiencies. For women, this could include conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome or endometriosis. In as many as 20% of cases, no underlying cause can be found. Sometimes, this will lead to a clear treatment plan involving medication or surgery. Other times, regular medical intervention does not help, and people may turn to traditional or alternative therapies such as moxibustion.
What is moxibustion?
A traditional form of Chinese medicine dating back thousands of years, moxibustion is closely related to acupuncture. Both are concerned with the flow of qi, or energy, and both apply their treatments to specific pressure points around the body in an attempt to manipulate or unblock this energy flow. The difference is that acupuncture uses needles, while moxibustion focuses on the burning of “moxa”, or mugwort, a type of herb that is applied to the relevant points on the body. Sometimes, an acupuncture needle may be inserted into the acupoint while moxa is burned at the other end. This is known as indirect moxibustion, as opposed to direct moxibustion, which involves a cone of burning moxa making direct contact with the skin.
In terms of modern science, research into moxibustion suggests that its benefits may be connected to the use of heat, which can alleviate pain, stimulate blood flow and help with relaxation.
How does moxibustion treatment for infertility work?
One of the most common uses of moxibustion treatment is in the management of fertility issues. It may be physically beneficial, stimulating the flow of blood to and from the ovaries as well as rebalancing your hormones. Infertility can cause a great deal of stress, which can elevate your levels of cortisol and adrenaline. Many of the body’s systems, including the reproductive system, shut down so it can enter the so-called “fight or flight” response, which is only meant to be sustained for short periods. If it becomes chronic, it can have a significant impact on the functioning of the rest of your body. Moxibustion may lower your stress hormones and regulate your system, helping you to relax so you are better able to respond to other treatments, such as assistive reproductive technology (ART).
Fertility issues can be complex, with a wide range of possible causes and treatments. Sometimes, it will require medical or surgical intervention. Other times, moxibustion therapy, with its ability to stimulate blood flow and improve circulation, as well as its role in aiding relaxation and mitigating the impact of stress, may be beneficial.