Cupping is an ancient Chinese method of dispersing local congestion. A partial vacuum is created in cups placed on the skin either by means of heat or suction. This draws up the underlying tissues. When the cup is left on the skin for a few minutes, blood stasis is formed and localised heating takes place.

The ‘moxa stick’ is the most common form in which moxibustion is used to promote health. Here the dried mugwort is rolled up tightly and wrapped in paper forming a cigar-like stick. . The moxa can be held in one stick, rotated in circles,or ‘pecked’ in a motion similar to sparrow pecking at food over the area of an acupuncture point. The practitioner places a finger next to the point being stimulated to maintain a comfortable level of heat and to guard the patient from the unlikely risk of burn. To take this course, you should preferably have a background on TCM Meridian principles.