Incense moxibustion? Yes.

Yes, yes, you read that right, incense moxibustion! This kind of moxa is perhaps the softest performed type of moxibustion. It's included in the Oknyu category (it means indirect and warming moxibustion). To do this technique is like apply a chinese moxa stick. Its calorific value is poor, except that you use a very caloric incense like Ito-thermie's incense. Really, you don't need large amount of heat for stimulate the body. The most important is to feel the status of the point and if it's empty you can use this technique (is important for this technique, and others, to develope your skill on palpation). For this technique you can choose one of the two classic incense thicknesses (the thickner is less brittle and more powerful). Moxibustion incense is ideal for pediatric treatment due you don't requires cones (with that, you substantially minimizes the risk of burn). A famous pediatric point (it is always advisable to include it in a pediatric treatment) is VG12 (promotes health of children in general). If children are babies, you should perform this technique with a soft peck (only 5 pecks per application is sufficient to 0 13/64in (0,5 cm) from the skin). Usually people thinks that it seems insufficient but on fact you should be prudent because the overtreatment is very easy and common. You must remember that the secret is in the place of application and the status of the point, not in the amount of stimuli. You can do this soft application on the point, without burning the baby of course, while the mother holds the baby in her arms.

Seems easy but....How to lit tiny moxa cones.

Indeed, it may seem an easy maneuver but in fact this can make you lose your patience. You need to remember two general rules: 1. Avoid the ash on the incense. 2. Lit the cone with a gentle incense's caress. I want to make a comment on the the fact of lit moxibustion cones. Obviously, small cones of direct moxa should be lit with an incense because if you use a lighter you will not need the cone (I'm sure of this). But, something that is not obvious, and is common, is the fact that people lit large cones with a lighter because usually they think: "If I have big cone, I will need a large flame". Nothing is further from reality, the energy system is very subtile and when we lit a cone with a lighter, the energy system become stressed by the amount of flame and noise of the lighter. So much better is use to lit all our cones (large and small) with an incense because in this way we will not disturb Qi. This only makes an exception and that is: With large cones and searching a dispersing effect you can use a lighter. Health and moxa!