A Look at Moxibustion for Inducing Labor & Birth

Moxibustion (or moxa for short) can be used to ripen the cervix and induce labor in women that are full term in their pregnancies.

Moxibustion is a treatment that's origins lie in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is the practice of burning Mugwort (Artemisia), either in direct conjunction with acupuncture or directly on the skin. The mugwort is aged into a fluff and this fluff is then burned or fashioned into sticks or cones. It is an aromatic warm smelling herb. If you are using moxibustion in a hospital or birth center to stimulate labor you may want to use the smokeless variety.

Moxibustion is an ancient practice that actually predates acupuncture. The needles used in acupuncture actually came to supplement moxibustion at around the second century BC. Moxibustion is used in correlation with the 12 meridians or energy pathways in the body. It is used to circulate Qi through out the body. An mbalance of Qi can cause stagnation within the meridians. A moxibustion treatment can help balance the Qi.

Moxibustion is very effective for stimulating the ripening of the cervix and encourages labor to start by stimulating the production of oxytocin.. The way it works is that the production of hormones and adrenaline is stimulated by the local neurovascular system and triggers the parasympathetic nervous system into responding. In turn oxytocin is produced within the body which is the hormone that stimulates labor and regulates contractions. Pitocin is the synthetic version and is often given to mother's in the hospital to induce and augment (speed up) labor. There are problems with pictocin though and it's not entirely safe for the baby. This is why moxa and other methods of inducing naturally are preferred.

The moxibustion treatment will be administered by an acupuncturist or other practitioner of oriental medicine. The moxa is burned over the acupuncture points and the heat directly stimulates these points. These are several points in the hand, feet, legs and shoulder to stimulate labor. The treatment is usually administered twice a day until labor begins. A lot of moms will have their babies within 48 hours.

Moxibustion is not only good for inducing labor but has been studied and shown to help turn a breech baby, shorten the first stage of labor, help with pain management during the second stage of labor and the birth as well as help mom relax. In a lot of cases it will help mom rest during labor and will give her an extra boost of energy during the birthing phase.

Overall moxibustion is a useful and important tool for a pregnant women wishing to avoid induction or augmentation. With the trend of inducing at 38 weeks on the rise it is important to know you do have a choice as well as options. You don't have to be coerced into an unwanted induction.