Is there only one therapy for moxibustion? No, no, no, its mystery is deep!

If you’ve only heard of umbilical moxibustion and are wondering, “Wait, is that the only kind?” Spoiler: nope! This old-school TCM practice actually has 5 common types—all about giving your body gentle warmth to feel better. Let me break ’em down super simply, no fancy jargon needed.

1. Direct Moxibustion: Tiny Heat Pads Right on Skin

Here’s the deal: they use tiny moxa “cones”—like, as big as a grain of rice or a small pea—and put ’em straight on specific spots (called TCM points) on your skin.

• How it works: They light the little cone, and it burns slow—you’ll feel a tingly warmth. But don’t stress! The practitioner will wipe off the ash before it gets too hot. Sometimes they’ll put a thin slice of garlic, ginger, or even a pinch of salt under the cone first—just to protect your skin and make the warmth work better.
• Best for: If you’ve got a specific issue, like a sore joint that’s bugging you or you’re feeling extra tired. This targets that one spot directly.

2. Indirect Moxibustion: Warmth Without Touching Skin

This one’s perfect if you’re new to moxibustion or don’t love the idea of stuff on your skin. The trick? They put a “barrier” between the moxa and your body—like ginger, garlic, salt, or a little box filled with moxa.

Popular picks:

•Ginger moxibustion: A thin slice of fresh ginger goes on your skin, then a moxa cone or stick on top. It’s nice and warm, and the ginger helps with digestion or if you’re feeling chilly.

•Salt moxibustion: They heat up coarse salt, plop it on your belly button (yep, this is what they use for umbilical moxa!), then add moxa heat on top. Salt holds heat forever, so that warmth sticks around.

•Moxa box moxibustion: Imagine a small, vented box full of moxa—they set that on bigger areas, like your lower back or stomach. Super easy, and it covers more space at once.

3. Suspended Moxibustion (Xuan Jiu): Warmth Held Right Above Skin

Best for: Just wanting to relax, warm up your whole body, or if you’d rather not have moxa anywhere near your skin.

In Mandarin, this is “悬灸”—and it’s like the middle ground between direct and indirect. No barriers, just gentle warmth hovering over your skin.

• How it works: The practitioner takes a long moxa stick (think: a big incense stick) , lights one end, and holds it 1–3 centimeters above your skin—right over those specific spots or small areas. They can either hold it still (that’s “static” suspended moxa) or move it slowly in little circles or lines (that’s “moving” suspended moxa). And if it feels too warm? They just pull it back a tiny bit—super customizable.
• Key thing: No stuff between the moxa and your skin—just pure, soft warmth, and zero chance of burning. You can target tiny spots (like your wrists) or bigger ones (like your upper back) easily.
• Best for: Total newbies, anyone with sensitive skin, or if you’ve got a tight neck or shoulders that need a little warmth. It also helps get your blood flowing and chases away that “I’m freezing” feeling.

4. Scarring vs. Non-Scarring Moxibustion: How Intense Is It?

These aren’t really “types”—more like how strong the treatment is, and they mostly apply to direct moxibustion.

•Non-scarring: This is 99% of what people get! They take the moxa off or adjust it before it burns your skin—you might get a little red spot, but it fades in a few hours. No scars, promise.

•Scarring: Super rare—only really used in old-school TCM, not regular wellness spots. They let a tiny moxa cone burn all the way down (with a thin layer to protect you), and it leaves a tiny permanent scar. Only for specific, long-term issues, and always with a practitioner’s okay.

Which One Should You Try?

It just depends on what feels right for you, what you need, and where you are:

• New to this? Go for suspended moxa or indirect (like the salt one on your belly button)—super gentle.
• Doing it at home? Stick moxa with a holder is your best bet—easy peasy.
• Got a specific sore spot? Direct moxa or moving suspended moxa (for areas like your neck) will target it.

Tried any of these before? Especially the suspended one? Or is there one you’re curious to test out? Let me know in the comments!