Can’t Sleep? Try Moxibustion As a Natural Insomnia Treatment!
Few things are worse than not being able to get a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, millions of people have trouble falling – and staying – asleep. In fact, one in four Americans develops insomnia each year. While many people recover without long-term complications, even a single night of not being able to sleep can take a toll on your mind and body.
If you are having trouble sleeping and are looking for a natural insomnia treatment, consider moxibustion. The Chinese have performed moxibustion for thousands of years, and more recently, studies have revealed that it really can provide relief for people who suffer from insomnia.
What Is Moxibustion?
Moxibustion is an alternative therapy during which dried herbs known as Moxa therapy and are burned close to the skin. Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) often hold sticks of burning moxa inches from the skin near acupuncture points until it becomes warm and red. In some cases, it is performed in conjunction with acupuncture.
This is believed to clear blockages and facilitate the flow of Qi throughout the body. Because TCM practitioners believe that such blockages attribute to many problems, it is believed that moxibustion can be used to treat a wide range of health conditions, including insomnia.
There are also products, such as the EasyMoxi, that allow people to experience the benefits of moxibustion in the comfort of their own homes. These devices deliver all the healing benefits of moxibustion without the danger of burns.
Moxibustion and Insomnia: What the Research Says
In a small study published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, researchers found that moxibustion is an effective treatment for insomnia. The study included 75 patients. The group was divided with 40 patients in the experimental group who were treated with moxibustion and 35 patients in the control group who received oral Estazolam, a prescription medication that is used for the short-term treatment of insomnia. This study found that moxibustion treated insomnia as effectively as the prescription medication.
Another study found that acupuncture combined with moxibustion is more effective in the treatment of insomnia than acupuncture alone.
How to Use Moxibustion Chinese Therapy for Insomnia
If you have an at-home moxibustion device, you can use it to try to relieve your own insomnia symptoms and get a good night’s sleep. There are a few acupoints that you can easily stimulate yourself to promote sleep. Before bed, soak your feet in warm water for at least 10 minutes.
Dry thoroughly, then place the device on the inner side of your foot below the ankle bone to warm the Zhao hai acupoint or in the center of the sole of your foot to warm the yong Quan acupoint. Leave in place for 10 to 20 minutes, then repeat on the other foot.
Moxibustion is safe, and for many people who have trouble sleeping, it provides impressive results. As a natural insomnia treatment, it is free from the risks and side effects that are commonly associated with over-the-counter and prescription sleep medications.
Give the EasyMoxi a try, and you could experience the best night’s sleep you’ve had in a long time!