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Which plant is commonly burned during moxibustion?
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traditional Chinese medicine
In moxibustion, or moxa treatment, small cones of an herb (typically Artemisia moxa) are burned on top of needles placed in designated points of the body, generally the same points as those used in acupuncture.
In the practice of moxibustion, the plant most frequently used is wormwood, specifically Artemisia moxa or A. mogusa.1
While wormwood is the primary herb, other plant materials such as mugwort, mulberry, ginger, and aconite are also utilized in the process. In modern applications, these herbs are often crushed and wrapped in paper to be burned or held near specific points on the body to provide warmth and stimulate circulation.1