The Case for Moxibustion for Painful Syndromes: History, principles and rationale

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has evolved over thousands of years. TCM practitioners use various approaches (such as acupuncture and tai chi) as well as herbal products to address health problems. Though lesser known in the west, the practice of Moxibustion is an integral part of Traditional East Asian Medicine. Moxibustion is an important non-invasive treatment that has shown to be beneficial in treating painful syndromes including neuropathy. It has been suggested that moxibustion may alleviate neuroinflammation by inhibiting NF-kB and by activating Nrf2. These anti-inflammatory and protective mechanisms could be key to exploring the use of moxibustion in treating other etiologies of neuropathy including HIV. There is ample scope for future study in this area and consideration of the history, development and practical applications of moxibustion therapy may be of help in this regard. This article seeks to explore the background, principles, and application of moxibustion in the clinical setting with particular emphasis on its potential for symptom management in the treatment of neuropathy and pain.