Moxa Activates Qi, Dispels Cold, Relaxes Tight Muscles
Moxa is one of my favorite equine body work methods. It costs pennies per session, is easy to use and the horses love it. The results are often miraculous. Moxa is a mixture of Chinese herbs that’s formed into a cigar-like stick or other smaller shapes. The burning coal of the herb held over the body creates a deep heating effect. This increases the circulation of blood and other fluids. Moxa moves what Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) calls stagnant qi and stagnant blood, which are considered to be the root cause of tight muscles, joint pain and other musculoskeletal problems. I use moxa on horses to:
- Relax tight muscles
- Stimulate acupressure points
- Relieve pain in joints that are worse in cold weather
- Build energy in the weak, deficient or older animal
- Warm the cold horse, improve digestion
- Soften scars and fibrotic areas
- Bring circulation to atrophied muscles
I light a moxa stick and hold it just above the horse’s body over general areas of tight muscles, arthritic joints and directly over acupressure points. This indirect use of the herb was developed in China’s Ming dynasty (1368 -162 AD). I learned this method in 1985 from Dr. Bob Anderson, a veterinary acupuncturist, in Dallas, Oregon. Massage instructor Kirsha Winds of Santa Rosa, California, showed me additional ways to use moxa to relieve chronic muscle tightness when I was completing my certification in human massage.
Dr. Peggy Fleming, one of the top equine acupuncturists in the United States, was interviewed for an article about moxa in The Whole Horse Journal. She said moxa brings results similar to those achieved by laser machines and other therapeutic devices at a much lower cost (pennies per session).
I use Moxa on my young quarter horse gelding Sparky in order to relieve chronically tight muscles of his low back and hindquarters due to old injuries. I also use it to warm him during cold weather, support his digestion and soften his teen-age horse attitude. For these purposes, I use the herb over Governing Vessel 4, Bladder 20 (the association point for the Spleen), Bai Hui and Bladder 40. Click here to see photos of Sparky receiving a moxa session on Governing Vessel 4.
Moxa is good in what TCM calls “cold conditions.” A cold condition is one where the animal is stiff and worse with cold. The animal may be weak due to old age or chronic pain. The animal may shiver and seem emotionally withdrawn or more easily frightened when cold. Arthritis (joint degeneration) can also be a cold condition that responds well to moxa, especially in cold and damp weather.
The herb adds energy to the body in the form of heat. This makes it a valuable tool for the deficient animal who is weak or cold. In winter, moxa is used to dispel cold and activate the qi. This warms the horse, supports his digestion and prevents his reserve energy from becoming drained by weeks of cold weather.
Caution: Some arthritic joints are inflamed and become worse with heat. Moxa is not appropriate in these cases.
Moxa is used to reduce scars and soften the stretched skin surrounding them. These areas are often stiff and can be cold to touch. They lack the suppleness of normal tissue because of the buildup of cellular debris and stagnant fluids. This material prevents circulation of the blood, flow of nerve information and qi (think of a bruise that will not disperse).
General Use of Moxa over Joints and Tight Muscles
Use moxa over the large muscles of the horse’s back, loin and hindquarters. Light the end of the moxa roll and wait for the end of the stick to become a red burning coal. Point the coal end of the stick down at the horse’s body. Start with the stick approximately three inches above the animal and adjust height of the stick and speed to the animal’s response. Use moxa over a 2 to 4 square inch area of muscle for one to two minutes. Move the stick in a circle pattern (clockwise), pointing in and out at the body, an elongated figure eight (an ellipse) or a sweeping/drawing movement. Your goal is for the horse to deeply relax and enjoy the session.
Use Moxa to Stimulate Acupressure Points
Moxa not only moves qi and blood it adds energy to the body. Use it in a pointing motion or a small circling motion directly over acupressure points for 30 to 60 seconds. To relieve chronic pain in the lower back, hindquarter muscles and joints and to strengthen the body use moxa over Governing Vessel 4, Bladder 23, Bai Hui (the lumbosacral point) and Bladder 40. Moxa over Governing Vessel 14 and Governing Vessel 4 builds energy in the older horse and builds immune response in any animal.
Moxa is commonly used over Governing Vessel 4 to warm the horse, dispel cold, and activate all of the many functions of Governing Vessel 4. Click here to learn more about Governing Vessel 4. Used over Kidney 3, moxa helps to build the core energy of the body. This can help strengthen older or chronically ill horses and relieve low back and hock pain and stiffness and arthritis.
If the horse has the pattern of incorrect qi known as yin deficiency with heat he may have the following signs in the upper body: dryness of the skin and hair of the neck and head, emotional restlessness due to a busy mind, over-reactivity and redness of the eyes or eye irritation. For this horse, moxa should only be used over the lower body, away from the area of heat and agitation.
Caution: The burning ember is extremely hot and will burn your skin and singe the horse’s hair if allowed to touch the body. Work in an outside area with good ventilation to minimize smoke buildup. Keep water on hand to extinguish any embers that fall on the ground. Use moxa no more than once per day.
Note: Moxa is not to be used in an area that has inflammation of the muscles or joints or if the skin is easily inflamed or itchy (this is heat on the surface of the body that would be increased by the use of the moxa). Do not use moxa if the animal has areas of broken skin, hot spots or abscesses. Do not use animals with “hot” conditions such as a fever or “hot” arthritis. Do not use on acute swellings from injury (wait 5-10 days after injury or until it has absolutely no heat present). Do not use on pregnant animals. Use moxa only once per day. Store moxa in a plastic bag - do not allow it to get wet or damp.