Moxibustion is a form of heat therapy in which dried plant materials called "moxa" are burned on or very near the surface of the skin. The intention is to warm and invigorate the flow of Qi in the body and dispel certain pathogenic influences.

In this method, the moxa material is compressed into a stick or pole, looking like an oversized cigar that can be lit and allowed to smolder, producing a unique form of very penetrating heat. Moxa is usually made from the dried leafy material of Chinese mugwort (Artemisia ).
It is not uncommon for patients receiving moxibustion to report a sudden flooding of warmth that quickly radiates along a specific pathway (usually corresponding with the jing luo channel that is being treated) away from the site of application. This is a good result, as it indicates the arrival of the Qi and signals that the flow of Qi and xue has been freed in the channel. Often both acupuncture and moxibustion are done in the same clinic session when appropriate to the diagnosis and treatment strategy. In many cases the therapies increase each other's effectiveness when used together.
There is a small inconvenience associated with moxibustion: the smoke and odor. Although there are so-called smokeless varieties of moxa, the preferred true moxa (made from mugwort) does produce a lot of smoke when burned. However, the lingering odor produced from burning mugwort unfortunately smells somewhat like marijuana. So, informing patients and visitors about the true nature of the odor that they may be noticing is useful.