Moxabustion

What is Moxabustion?

Moxa, for short, is a form of heat therapy usually used in conjunction with acupuncture. Although, on its own it can be a very useful and powerful medicinal tool. It is an age old form of medicine that goes back into ancient chinese folklore where it is said that burning it over a specific point (stomach 36) on the body daily will help someone live to 100 yrs old.

Acupuncture treatment for Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

Tinnitus or ringing in the ears is one of lifes little annoyances for some people it comes and goes and for others its there constantly. It makes hearing difficult and can get worse over time and the longer its been around the harder it is to treat. Ringing in the ears can be caused by a number of issues, which can range from having anxiety or to common lifestyle choices. 

According to Chinese medicine all organ systems in the body can have some effect on the ears such as the heart, lungs, gallbladder and liver, but the organ that is most associated with the ears are the kidneys. The kidneys also provide the body's fundamental energy that carries us through life. If the kidneys become deficient many things can occur such as chronic fatigue, being constantly cold, excessive urination, asthma, knee pain, low back pain and of course low pitched ringing in the ears. High pitched ringing is more closely associated to the Liver/Gallbladder organs and stress/anxiety.

The following is a list of some things that can cause kidney deficiency:

1. Overwork- Drains the kidneys energy
2. Aging- Natural kidney energy loss
3. Poor Diet- Too much dairy or greasy foods can weigh down the body's energy
4. Excessive sexual activity-  Drains the kidneys energy

Besides the kidneys and the functioning of other organs in the body, another issue that can commonly occur to cause ringing in the ears is something called phlegm. Phlegm is an obstruction that can build up in the head and not only cause ringing in the ears, but also can cause
a poor sense of smell and a heavy feeling head. This primarily can come from a really poor diet, 
a bacterial or viral infection and or from having other chronic(longterm) issues.

Usually for ringing in the ears there is a combination of the above issues that may be the cause and
there are usually other issues that need to be addressed along with the ringing in the ears. There are many 
acupuncture points that are connected to the ears, and with proper diagnosis discovering the
true cause of the ringing is the best way to figure out what points to use. 

However, there are 3 points in particular that can have a strong effect over the ears, each point is 
connected to a different channel, so many things can be addressed by using all 3 of them at the same 
time. They lie directly in front of the ears on both sides of the head. They are also local ear points that 
when stimulated can send increased blood flow to the area helping move any local obstructions 
like phlegm. Massaging these points on a regular basis may temporarily help with acute ringing in the ears.

These points are from top to bottom Triple Burner (TB) 21, Small Intestine (SI) 19 and Gallbladder 
(GB) 2. They lie adjacent to the ear and can help regulate the ear functioning when stimulated,
it's easy to massage all three and it can be done as long as desired.

For chronic issues it is best to consult an acupuncturist to get a full diagnosis made and to have a full
body treatment to help get to the root of the cause. Ringing in the ears can be difficult to treat, but with 
proper lifestyle and diet choices and with the help of a fully licensed acupuncturist a difference can 
be made. 

Thank you for visiting Acuthink today and I hope this article has been helpful to you, please leave any 
comments or questions below.