Is moxibustion a recognised practice?

Yes. It is a central tool of Traditional Chinese and Japanese Medicine, used for more than 2,000 years. It is worth noting that Chinese Medicine is an institutional form of medicine in many countries, on a par with Western medicine, but not in France. Moxibustion has been inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list since 2010.

The Chinese term zhēn jiǔ (针灸), translated as acupuncture, should in fact be translated as needles (zhēn) and moxibustion (jiǔ). This is why moxibustion is little known in the West, where acupuncture is associated with needles alone.

The Ling Shu, one of the founding texts of TCM, states: “Where the needle cannot act, moxibustion is indicated.”

What is a moxa stick?

A moxa stick is a cigar of dried, compressed mugwort used in moxibustion. It is lit to warm acupuncture points without direct contact with the skin.

There are so many products on your site: which should I buy as a beginner?

If you are just starting out, begin with the standard-size moxa sticks (R1). Also consider the extinguisher: its conical holes let you put the stick out without crushing it, saving material each time you reuse it. The best option is the Moxibustion Starter Kit, which includes a box of R1 sticks, an extinguisher, a burner and a book to introduce you to the practice. For your first sessions, also read our guide How to practise moxibustion at home.

Are Vert Nature moxa sticks really made in France?

Yes, which is a rarity in Europe. Our sticks are handcrafted in France from wild common mugwort, hand-picked in the Cévennes around the summer solstice, according to the phases of the moon and sun. Vert Nature has been the only European moxa producer since 1985, and we know of no other producers outside Asia.

Does moxa produce a lot of smoke?

Yes, burning mugwort produces smoke. Our French sticks, made from wild mugwort processed by hand, produce less smoke than low-end sticks, and the smoke is softer, less harsh and less lingering. The smoke is considered part of the therapeutic action. To find out more: Safety of moxa smoke.

How does it differ from smokeless moxa?

Smokeless moxa is a recent invention and in no way equivalent to traditional moxa. At best, it is made from carbonised mugwort stems mixed with glue so that it holds together as a stick. Laboratory measurements show that the wavelength of its radiation is different and that the radiation intensity is 1,000 times lower than that of traditional moxa. Moreover, it contains no essential oils, as these are destroyed by carbonisation. Smokeless moxa is not used in Chinese hospitals. We explain these measurements in detail in our article Smokeless moxa: why it is less effective than traditional moxa.

Can I practise moxibustion on my own at home?

Yes, for certain easily accessible points (legs, abdomen, lower back). For the others, you can use the burner and its extension, which lets you reach points further away. If you are starting on your own, the Zu San Li point, below the knee, is the best known and easiest to locate. Our guide How to practise moxibustion at home takes you through it step by step.

Why do you harvest mugwort at the summer solstice?

Harvesting around the summer solstice, following the phases of the moon and sun, corresponds to the moment when the plant is at its peak concentration of active compounds. This tradition comes from the practices of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which attached great importance to the growth cycle and the seasons when harvesting medicinal plants. Discover our approach in Tradition and Ethics.

How is your moxa different from the moxa sold in Asian shops?

Moxa sold in large quantities comes almost exclusively from China. It is made from intensively farmed mugwort, machine-harvested together with all the surrounding plants and artificially dried. In China, it is a genuine industry. It is worth noting that for one form of moxa, gold moxa, used in a highly specialised technique, Japan is the reference.

Our mugwort is wild, hand-picked in Occitania and processed entirely in France. You can feel the difference: softer smoke, more even heat, and the guarantee of full traceability from plant to stick.

Do you also sell other TCM equipment?

Yes. So that you can find everything in one place and save on shipping costs, we offer the products you need to practise moxibustion. We give priority to European manufacturers and local products (see our environmental and social commitment), but this remains very difficult in Chinese Medicine. Some products, such as needles, are made in China, but under the supervision of European manufacturers committed to quality and European standards (there are no manufacturing plants outside Asia).

We also choose products of excellent quality: there is little point, for example, in offering a blowtorch lighter that you can find much cheaper in any DIY store or on a Chinese marketplace.