Why We Do Not Manufacture Smokeless Moxa (Mugwort Charcoal and Other Substances)
Moxibustion, Therapeutic Effectiveness, and a Choice of Coherence
Smokeless moxa is now widely presented as a modern alternative to traditional moxa: cleaner, more comfortable, and supposedly equivalent in therapeutic terms. At Vert Nature, we have made a clear and deliberate choice: we do not offer smokeless moxa.
This choice is neither ideological nor nostalgic. It is based on a rigorous analysis of the actual mechanisms of moxibustion, clinical experience, traditional Chinese teachings, and the study of recent scientific publications. Smokeless moxa does not possess the same physical properties or the same therapeutic scope as traditional moxa.
Moxibustion Is Not Limited to Heat
Reducing moxibustion to a simple thermal input is an excessive simplification. If heat were the only determining factor, any heat source could replace moxa.
In reality, the effectiveness of moxibustion relies on three distinct and measurable physical phenomena:
- the heat produced by combustion,
- electromagnetic radiation, mainly in the near-infrared range,
- volatile substances, particularly essential oils released during the combustion of mugwort.
These three dimensions act in a complementary manner and contribute to the overall therapeutic effect.
A Profoundly Different Electromagnetic Radiation
Studies have shown that traditional moxa emits infrared radiation with a specific wavelength, particularly effective for penetrating deeply into tissues.
Smokeless moxa, by contrast, exhibits a very different electromagnetic radiation:
- the emitted wavelength is not the same,
- the radiation intensity is approximately one thousand times lower (1000 times!) than that of traditional moxa.
Heat is perceived at the surface, but the radiation useful for deep action is greatly reduced.
The Disappearance of Essential Oils
Smokeless moxa is produced through a pyrolysis process: mugwort is carbonized in a low-oxygen environment. This process causes the evaporation and destruction of nearly all the essential oils naturally contained in the plant.
Yet these aromatic compounds are an integral part of the therapeutic action of traditional moxa. Their absence reduces moxibustion to an incomplete thermal stimulation.
Furthermore, the manufacture of smokeless moxa sticks requires the addition of binders to ensure mechanical cohesion. The exact nature of these binders and the substances they release during combustion are rarely specified, raising questions about their actual safety.
Smoke: A Modern Constraint, a Traditional Therapeutic Component
Moxa smoke is often perceived as a nuisance. In Chinese tradition, it is considered an integral part of the treatment.
It carries part of the active substances produced by combustion and contributes to the overall dynamics of the therapy. This is one of the reasons why, even in modern Chinese hospitals, traditional moxa remains predominantly used.
A Subtle Dimension Inseparable from Moxibustion
Beyond strictly physical phenomena, moxibustion also acts on a more subtle level, long recognized by Chinese Medicine. The combustion of moxa does not merely produce heat: it generates an upward movement, diffusion, and a quality of presence comparable to incense.
In classical texts, moxa smoke is described as having the ability to “open the orifices.” This notion does not refer solely to respiratory action, but to a functional opening: clarification of the Shen, stimulation of perception, and facilitation of Qi circulation between the interior and exterior.
The smoke thus acts as a vector connecting heaven and earth: heat anchors, combustion mobilizes, smoke elevates. This tripartite dynamic contributes to the overall therapeutic effect and cannot be dissociated from the therapeutic gesture itself.
In smokeless moxa, this dimension is absent or significantly diminished. Even if heat is produced, the loss of upward movement, volatile substances, and the functional symbolism of smoke profoundly alters the nature of the treatment.
Tradition, Effectiveness, and Therapeutic Coherence
Chinese Medicine is based on more than two thousand years of clinical observation. Plant carbonization processes have long been known and widely used in pharmacopoeia.
If smokeless moxa possessed equivalent effectiveness, it would naturally have found its place in traditional practice. Its recent development primarily responds to requirements of comfort and speed, at the cost of significant therapeutic compromises.
Conclusion
Smokeless moxa heats the body. Traditional moxa acts more comprehensively, combining heat, specific infrared radiation, active plant-derived substances, and the subtle dimension of the combustion process.
At Vert Nature, we have chosen therapeutic coherence. This is why we exclusively use and offer traditional moxa, faithful to the spirit and effectiveness of authentic moxibustion.