Loose moxa - Medium wool for Ontake and cones - "Lux Aurora" images
Loose moxa (50 g) in the form of purified wool, obtained by isolating most of the trichomes of wild common mugwort leaves hand-picked in France (the fine white down on their underside), while keeping a small proportion of leaf material (slightly more than the “Lux Alba” moxa), in order to maintain a balanced thermal effect and to avoid an excessively dispersing action.
The Lux range draws on the symbolism of traditional alchemy. In the old treatises, the transformation of matter is described as a gradual process of purification and elevation called the Magnum Opus (the Great Work). Through successive stages, raw matter is clarified and refined until it reaches a state of completion symbolised by gold.
Preparing moxa follows a comparable logic: with each successive refining, the mugwort fibre becomes lighter, purer and more subtle. The Lux range takes up this idea of gradual transformation, evoked by the growing emergence of light.
Each moxa represents a stage in this progression:
Each moxa in the range is also associated with a number of mugwort leaves shown on the packaging. These leaves are a visual symbol indicating the level of refinement of the moxa, in place of the stars often used in the Japanese classification.
This system also keeps a symbolic dimension inspired by alchemy:
The 4-leaf and 5-leaf levels correspond roughly to the Japanese 4-star and 5-star moxa, with a slightly higher degree of purification.
| Quality | Moxa boxes | Cones | Heated needle | Ontake | Japanese moxibustion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lux Prima 🌿 | ✔✔ | ✔✔ | |||
| Lux Aurora 🌿🌿🌿🌿 | ✔ | ✔✔ | |||
| Lux Alba 🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿 | ✔ | ✔✔ | |||
| Lux Aurea 🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿 | ✔✔ |
✔ possible use    ✔✔ particularly suitable
The medium purified moxa wool corresponds to the Lux Aurora 🌿🌿🌿🌿 grade of the Lux range. It is obtained from mugwort leaves that are ground and then sifted several times. This process isolates the trichomes (the fine white down on the underside of the leaves) while keeping a good proportion of leaf material and removing everything that is too powdery.
This mugwort wool is used to make direct and indirect moxa, in particular in the form of cones placed on slices of ginger or garlic, which act as an intermediate layer between the skin and the glowing mugwort.
It is also particularly suited to the practice of Ontake (moxa placed in a bamboo tube).
Loose moxa is especially recommended for deep treatments as well as for chronic or recurring conditions, when the heat needs to penetrate the tissues over a long period.
The mugwort used is picked at the summer solstice, when sunshine is at its peak. According to tradition, this period corresponds to a higher concentration of the plant's active principle, giving the moxa a more invigorating character.
The complete absence of paper in this form of moxa allows the mugwort to burn directly and gives off a milder, more pleasant smell in use.
