Moxa sticks anyone?

starfishkitty

My acupuncturist recommended Moxa sticks for preventing miscarriage.  They are these small cigarette sized compressed herbs that need to be lit with a match.  While burning they are smokeless but produce heat.  I am very skeptical of using them and worried about burning myself or doing it wrong, or just feeling foolish for doing something so bizarre.  Has anyone heard anything good/bad about these?

 

AppleRidge

*Butting in from PgAL*

I've had two midwives, my OB and a chiropractor all suggest moxibustion to turn a breech baby, and all have mentioned that it has a noted (yet unexplained) success rate for lots of fertility issues (nobody specifically mentioned prevention of m/c).  So, I assume its somewhat reputable, although it does seem kind of silly. 

Olive44

My old acupuncturist used to use those on me.  I never really knew what they were for, but I figured she knew what she was doing. 

ColindaP

BGP's acupuncturist used to use them on her. It was, I guess, net neutral - neither harmed nor helped. But hey, if you want to take a kitchen sink approach, why not?

rjl07

My acupuncturist did it to me, but I never did it to myself.  She burned me a little a couple times, but it was just a tiny little blister.  I totally credit her with getting rid of my cysts and getting me ready for IVF. 

dizzycooks

Do I dare ask where these sticks are placed while they burn?

heathergirl67

I've done it. I've had it done by the acupuncturist with a big moxa stick that she holds over me and I tell her when it gets too hot. She also gave me some stick-on ones that she wanted me to use at home. They smell JUST like marijuana! It cracks me up.

You stick them on your lower belly, right above your pubic bone. Then you light them and let them heat and smolder. It gets warmer and warmer the closer it gets to your skin. When it gets too warm, you take it off. I would advise having a plate or something fire-proof nearby that you can toss the moxa sticks on because at the point you need to take them off of your skin, your fingers can't hold them for too long either. So you might not have time to place them right-side-up when you take them off.

I only burned myself once and it wasn't that bad. I found it relaxing, once I got the hang of how to do it. I didn't do it for fertility reasons, I did it to stop my cramping. I might start doing it again, though, for fertility. Studies show that women who regularly do calming mind-body rituals are more likely to concieve than those who don't. But I don't know if there's anything about Moxa specifically that gives it fertility-boosting powers. If it doesn't float your boat you could try yoga or meditation.

rjl07

dizzykates:

Do I dare ask where these sticks are placed while they burn?

I had them on the inside of my ankles and my back.  She might have also done my arm, but I forget.