What is Moxa and How can it Warm Your Uterus?

Moxa Sticks

What is Moxabustion?

Moxabustion (moxa) is a traditional Chinese medicine practice involving burning of the herb mugwort to promote heat in the body. 

Benefits of Moxa for Fertility:

• Fertility moxa warms the uterus

• Fertility moxa warms the kidney and spleen channels which start on the feet. The Kidney and Spleen support the Uterus and implantation. 

  
  

  Therefore, for optimal fertility, it is important to keep the feet and abdomen warm as the uterus needs to be in an optimally heated state in order for an embryo to implant. A cold uterus will not support implantation. 

  
  

• Moxa over the toes helps to turn a breach baby.

• Moxa is relaxing!

Why Do We Need a Warm Womb?

For fertility, it is very important to have a warm uterus so that the embryo can implant. A cold uterus links to low progesterone and deficient Kidney and Spleen energy.

In Chinese Medicine the Kidney Yang (progesterone) warms the body. The Kidney works closely with the Uterus. So if the Kidney energy is weak, you get low progesterone, a short luteal phase and a cold uterus. This is not the ideal environment for implantation.

When cold accumulates in the uterus it can cause blockages which also prevent implantation or contribute to early miscarriage.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of a Cold Uterus?

• Painful periods

• Cold feet

• Small and stringy or small and dark clots in your menstrual blood

• Cold abdomen and/or cold bottom

Deficient Kidney energy and a cold uterus are two of the most common diagnoses in Chinese Medicine of recurrent miscarriage or implantation failure. Using moxa daily in the luteal phase or in the lead up to IVF or FET can make a big difference.

What Causes a Cold Uterus?

• Living in cold environment without dressing for the weather. For example, wearing open toe shoes, having damp hair and wearing short tops with the abdomen exposed. This can happen over a number of years.

• Abdominal surgery - being 'open' on a operating table with cold surgical instruments in a cold environment.

• Post C Section or a traumatic or long natural birth

• Environment during adolescence. For example, playing a lot of cold weather outdoor sports in shorts or gym skirts or excessive swimming, especially at the time of puberty when the fertility organs are developing.

• Eating cold foods as a habit, over a long period of time.

• Constitution - having weak Kidney energy from birth or childhood

First We Need to Clear the Cold:

In addition to moxa, it is also important to move the blood and CLEAR THE COLD from the Uterus. If you have Cold Uterus, you can add cupping to your acupuncture session for £10, once or twice monthly. When we use fire cupping over the belly button this clears the underlying cold stasis, leaving the uterus more receptive to the heating methods. We should always clear cold first and add heat afterwards.

Other Methods of Keeping the Uterus Warm:

• Exercise

• Hot water bottle on abdomen

• Socks and slippers at home

• Avoid crocs or other open toe shoes

• Warm foods and drinks

• Avoid cold foods and drinks

• Heat lamp

I would describe these methods as 'maintenance' of a warm uterus at a surface level. They prevent further cold from becoming a blockage. Whereas moxa is the most effective method to warm the uterus at deeper level.

How to Obtain Moxa:

You can buy moxa sticks at Creation Acupuncture.

10 sticks for £12

How to Use Moxa: 

1. Burn the stick like you would with incense. 

2. Use an ashtray or similar to catch the ash. 

3. Hover the stick a few inches above your abdomen, moving it above the mid line of the abdomen and around the lower abdomen, taking care not to go too close to avoid burning the skin. Remember to frequently discard the ash. 

4. Repeat along each leg. Start on the inside of the foot and follow up the inside of the lower leg. You can stop around the knee. 

5. Continue to warm these areas for 5-15 minutes. 

6. Repeat daily in the luteal phase or in preparation for embryo transfer. 

7. When you have completed the treatment, stub out the moxa stick and cut off the end so that it can be reused. Water is also effective, however this is likely to ruin the stick for future use. 

Contra-indications: 

·       Don’t use moxa on the abdomen during stims phase of IVF. 

·       Don’t use moxa over broken skin or eczema. 

·       Don’t use moxa if you have low platelet count, low white blood cell count or other bleeding disorders. 

·       Don’t use moxa on the abdomen in pregnancy. 

·       Exercise caution if you have respiratory issues, such as asthma. 

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