Moxibustion can help to increase immune function. Studies have shown moxibustion significantly increases the white blood cell count in the body, which is the major component of the immune system. Moxa strengthens the immune system and helps re-balance autoimmune diseases.

Moxibustion has been used to boost the immune system for centuries. According to classic Chinese medicine texts, applying  moxibustion at Zusanli (ST36, bilaterally) and Dazhui (GV14) once per day for five minutes at each acupoint is an efficient way to boost the immune system. ⁶

Zusanli (ST36) is one of the most famous acupuncture points. According to legend, a weary traveler (during the time when travel was predominantly on foot) would moxa Zusanli and become energized enough to be easily complete many long journeys. ⁶

From a Chinese Medicine standpoint, moxibustion on Zusanli increases our body’s ability to absorb the nutrients, improves our energy, and ultimately boosts our immune system. ⁶

Scientific research has been done in order to investigate the regulative effect of moxa-cone moxibustion on the phagocytic function of macrophages and provide experimental data for the study of other moxibustion methods. A group of 130 mice were divided into a normal control group – a moxibustion group- a hypoimmune-model group, and a hypoimmune-plus-moxibustion group.

Flow cytometry and smear examination were adopted to observe phagocytosis of macrophages in these groups. The results showed that moxa-cone moxibustion on acupoint Dazhui (Du14) exerted a marked increase on phagocytosis of macrophages in the mice.

The study reported that moxibustion on Dazhui (Du14) can strengthen the respiratory function including allergy cases.

Some researchers’ results showed that moxibustion of Dazhui (GV14) can restrain the secretion of interleukin 4 (IL-4), relieve the inflammatory reaction of immunoglobulin E (IgE), and enhance the ratio of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) to IL-4 in asthmatic rats, which presents an increased tendency of the curative effect along with the extension of the treatment time from 15 minutes to 60 minutes.^”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15315267

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3789413/

Moxibustion helps conditions that are worsened by cold, like arthritis. Moxa treats any pain that is worse with cold or wet weather. Injuries sustained while in a cold climate like skiing accidents or nerve damage by cold respond very well to moxibustion.

Moxibustion manages inflammation from both infection and trauma by stimulating the circulatory system. Specifically, moxibustion increases white blood cell counts. Fresh blood enters the tissue and flushes out old blood and toxic byproducts of inflammation.

Moxa adds energy of its own to the body and in doing so it stimulates the body to make more red blood cells. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) terms, moxa “builds blood”. This technique is used to treat symptoms of blood deficiency such as dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, weakness, hair loss, anemia, postpartum depression and more.