Moxa herb, also known as mugwort: understanding the morphological characteristics and uses of moxa herb

Moxa herb is another name for mugwort, usually referring to the mugwort leaves used to make moxa floss and to perform moxibustion; it is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Asteraceae family, genus Artemisia. Because of its important place in traditional moxibustion therapy, it is customarily called moxa herb among the general public, and it is also known as medical herb and mugwort.

The moxa herb plant has a strong aroma, an upright stem, and leaves that are pinnately lobed, green on the upper surface and densely covered with grayish-white down on the underside. It has strong adaptability and tolerates drought and poor soil, growing naturally along field edges, roadsides, hillsides and other places, and it is distributed across most regions of China; it is generally believed that plants with thick, fleshy leaves and abundant down are of better quality.

The most important use of moxa herb is making moxa floss; the fluffy material obtained by repeatedly pounding mugwort leaves and sifting out impurities can be rolled into moxa sticks or moxa cones, and after being lit, it uses warm heat to stimulate the body's acupoints, helping to warm the meridians and dispel cold and to relax muscles and activate collaterals, making it the basic material of moxibustion therapy. In addition to moxibustion, mugwort leaves can also be used as medicine or for soaking the feet, and in some places there is also the custom of picking tender mugwort leaves to make foods such as qingtuan.

When choosing moxa herb products, pay attention to the color and fineness of the moxa floss; moxa floss that has been aged is mostly earthy yellow or golden yellow, with a mild odor, fewer impurities, and a relatively gentle fire when burned. It should be stored in a dry, ventilated place to avoid dampness and mold, so as not to affect its effectiveness.